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To: Duffboy
Do these nut cases even know what “ Theory’ means?
Hint:....best evidence. Repeat, best evidence.

Definitions (from my FR home page):

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." Addendum: "Theories do not grow up to be laws. Theories explain laws." (Courtesy of VadeRetro.)

Theory: A scientifically testable general principle or body of principles offered to explain observed phenomena. In scientific usage, a theory is distinct from a hypothesis (or conjecture) that is proposed to explain previously observed phenomena. For a hypothesis to rise to the level of theory, it must predict the existence of new phenomena that are subsequently observed. A theory can be overturned if new phenomena are observed that directly contradict the theory. [Source]

When a scientific theory has a long history of being supported by verifiable evidence, it is appropriate to speak about "acceptance" of (not "belief" in) the theory; or we can say that we have "confidence" (not "faith") in the theory. It is the dependence on verifiable data and the capability of testing that distinguish scientific theories from matters of faith.


22 posted on 06/17/2007 7:29:51 PM PDT by Coyoteman (Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.)
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To: Coyoteman

“For a hypothesis to rise to the level of theory, it must predict the existence of new phenomena that are subsequently observed.”

Used to be that a hypothesis couldn’t rise to the level of theory unless it was testable and falsifiable.

Are those requirements part of your definition?


181 posted on 06/18/2007 8:16:31 AM PDT by webstersII
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To: Coyoteman
or we can say that we have "confidence" (not "faith") in the theory

What a joke. It's your religion and therefore it's faith.

459 posted on 06/21/2007 12:13:11 AM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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