I agree, one should distinguish the experimental confirmation from theoretical predictions. Simultaneously, the "it's just a theory"-flavor rhetoric is tiresom

I agree, one should distinguish the experimental confirmation from theoretical predictions. Simultaneously, the "it's just a theory"-flavor rhetoric is tiresome and small-minded. The basic theories (GR, QM) have been experimentally verified with exquisite accuracy. Theories produced with those axioms as a foundation inherit the incredible effort that has been put into verifying the underlying rules. Experimental results showing that the predictions of such a theory are wrong would be a HUGE deal. That does not indicate a problem with the theory, as much of a fundamental gap in our knowledge of how the universe works. But sure, whatever, it's just a theory Edit: clarification, this only applies to theories that only take as axioms the _fundamentals_. No approximations.