[USConstitutionBuff]

I believe, without proof, that this posting will be an occasion for people who are ignorant about and fearful of Science to wax idiotic upon how Scientists really don't know or understand anything because they keep changing their theories, and cannot PROVE anything.

[Coyoteman]

A few definitions to get us started (from a google search; your mileage may vary):

Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"

Hypothesis: a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"

Observation: any information collected with the senses

Data: factual information, especially information organized for analysis or used to reason or make decisions

Fact: when an observation is confirmed repeatedly and by many independent and competent observers, it can become a fact

Belief: any cognitive content (perception) held as true; religious faith

Impression: a vague idea in which some confidence is placed; "his impression of her was favorable"; "what are your feelings about the crisis?"; "it strengthened my belief in his sincerity"; "I had a feeling that she was lying"

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Yes.

[js1138]

ping

[mlc9852]

"Daniel Hillis, chairman, Applied Minds Inc: "I know that it sounds corny, but I believe that people are getting better. In other words, I believe in moral progress."

I guess I would need his definition of "moral progress". Interesting article, though.

[chiller]

I encourage all to read Michael Crichton's State of Fear to get an idea of "computer models" and how they're manipulated to achieve desired goals. Scary

[balrog666]

Seth Lloyd, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: "I believe in science. Unlike mathematical theorems, scientific results can't be proved. They can only be tested again and again, until only a fool would refuse to believe in them."

Nice. Don't we visit this one on a daily basis here?

[soltice]

"brilliant Christian scholars demonstrated by rational argument the existence of a sky-god,"

at THAT point I read no more.

[gcruse]

Sure, science grows with guesswork. But it doesn't stop at the guess. The guess has to be tested and found to be empirically falsifiable. All else is wishful thinking.