[donh]

Given that there's not much potential for producing testable hypotheses in the case of panspermia theory, what would you call speculation in that area? Philosophy?

Entertainment.

[mjolnir]

Well, you’re right about Fred Hoyle being that.

However, while it’s true that going out on a limb doesn’t make someone a trailblazer anymore than, as leftists never cease reminding us, President Bush’s unpopularity doesn’t make him a Lincoln* it’s also true that trailblazers are often those who go out on limbs.

Hoyle’s discovery of nucleosynthesis in stars deserved the Nobel and his pushing of the steady state thesis, though mistaken, pushed Big Bang supporters to step up their game.

*It’s his steadfastness in the face of unpoularity that does that