[js1138]

"As a matter of fact there’s a point of view that says, that the only way that science can make progress is by showing that theories are wrong. The argument goes like this: It’s impossible to prove that a theory is right, no matter how many experiments agree with it. But if one single experiment disagrees with it, then the theory must be wrong."

That's true in the same sense that architecture can only progress when a building falls down, or industry can only progress when a product or corporation fails.

[Proud_texan]

Ah, thanks for taking the time to put it in those terms.

Allow me to present a silly example so I can be sure that I understand it.

If a theory is presented that a planet in another galaxy is made of marshmellow by the StayPuff Marshmallow Man the theory isn't "right" because that can't be proved but on the other hand it can't be disproved by experiment, either.

Now my "common sense" would tell me that a marshmellow planet is absurd, but it can't be disproved so it would remain a valid theory, not yet disproved.

If these are naive questions, forgive me, but I ask them only because I honestly desire to have a better understanding of these things (my background is not in any science other than the computer type).

Thanks.