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Somewhat related: I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. For example, a lot

Somewhat related: I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. For example, a lot of people I've talked to think the Big Bang "Theory" is a work of fiction someone invented. I've found that among a lot of the people I talk to there's this severe, fundamental lack of understanding around how science works. Not a lack of scientific knowledge per se; just a misunderstanding of science's modus operandi.

aortega 13y ago
>I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. Well they are correct.
- Iftheshoefits 13y ago
  No, they are not even remotely close to being correct.
  - aortega 13y ago
    Why? would you say, quantum mechanics theory is a universal truth, a fact, or just a very good guess? Because general relativity is also a theory, but both theories cannot be true in our universe as they contradict. It's the same with almost any natural science theory. Theories try to be very good aproximations of the truth, until a better guess comes out.
    - judk 13y ago
      Everyone, please stop pretending you aren't intentionally assigning different meanings to the same words. Put substance in your disagreement, not wordplay.
    - Iftheshoefits 13y ago
      What you mean by "guess" isn't how any scientist would interpret "guess" in this context, and that what you call a "guess" is a rather glib and incomplete representation of all the things that comprise a "theory."
- eksith 13y ago
  If a scientific theory is just a guess, then the human eye is a just lens. I'm sure you're aware, there's a bit more to it than that.
- jballanc 13y ago
  Fact: In science, an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed. Law: A descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances. Hypothesis: A testable statement about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations. Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses. (Source: http://arstechnica.com/science/2006/08/5164/ http://arstechnica.com/science/2006/08/5164/) Edit: How it works... "Massive objects are attracted to each other by the force of gravity." == Scientific Fact. "Objects in motion remain in motion. For every force there is an equal an opposite reaction. Force is mass times acceleration." == Scientific Law (Newton's Laws of Motion). "The bending of space under the influence of gravity can cause light to curve around massive objects." == Scientific Hypothesis (Verified by Eddington's 1919 solar eclipse observations). All of the above (and a whole lot more) put together == General Theory of Relativity.
  - aortega 13y ago
    >Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses. ...that can be wrong and often are replaced by better theories as more tests and better explanations came out. Science is based in doubt. If you are too sure of a scientific theory, you are missing what science really is about and what you need is religion.
    - jballanc 13y ago
      Falsifiability is a feature of every element of science. Something that is not falsifiable isn't science. Period. But a Theory is not a guess. It is a framework built from individual pieces, some of which may be hypotheses (effectively guesses) that have been tested and found to hold within the larger structure of that framework.
      - aortega 13y ago
        If you are based in individual pieces that may be effectively guesses, how you are not also a guess?
Mz 13y ago
I once explained to my (very argumentative) ex that when most people use words like "hypothesis" or "theory" they basically mean "guess." He was shocked and then said something like "that explains a lot of conversations I have had..." Of course, he meant their scientific definition, not remotely what most people meant when arguing with him.
vezzy-fnord 13y ago
Indeed, this is the reason why there is still so much backlash and state suppression of the highly established fact that is the theory of evolution. Equivocation on top of religious biases.
sirtroll 13y ago
do you know why is it called theory instead of theorem,lemma or law?

aortega 13y ago

>I've found in my general experiences that many people don't know what a scientific theory is. They think it means a guess. Well they are correct.

Iftheshoefits 13y ago
No, they are not even remotely close to being correct.
- aortega 13y ago
  Why? would you say, quantum mechanics theory is a universal truth, a fact, or just a very good guess? Because general relativity is also a theory, but both theories cannot be true in our universe as they contradict. It's the same with almost any natural science theory. Theories try to be very good aproximations of the truth, until a better guess comes out.
  - judk 13y ago
    Everyone, please stop pretending you aren't intentionally assigning different meanings to the same words. Put substance in your disagreement, not wordplay.
  - Iftheshoefits 13y ago
    What you mean by "guess" isn't how any scientist would interpret "guess" in this context, and that what you call a "guess" is a rather glib and incomplete representation of all the things that comprise a "theory."
eksith 13y ago
If a scientific theory is just a guess, then the human eye is a just lens. I'm sure you're aware, there's a bit more to it than that.
jballanc 13y ago
Fact: In science, an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed. Law: A descriptive generalization about how some aspect of the natural world behaves under stated circumstances. Hypothesis: A testable statement about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations. Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses. (Source: http://arstechnica.com/science/2006/08/5164/ http://arstechnica.com/science/2006/08/5164/) Edit: How it works... "Massive objects are attracted to each other by the force of gravity." == Scientific Fact. "Objects in motion remain in motion. For every force there is an equal an opposite reaction. Force is mass times acceleration." == Scientific Law (Newton's Laws of Motion). "The bending of space under the influence of gravity can cause light to curve around massive objects." == Scientific Hypothesis (Verified by Eddington's 1919 solar eclipse observations). All of the above (and a whole lot more) put together == General Theory of Relativity.
- aortega 13y ago
  >Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses. ...that can be wrong and often are replaced by better theories as more tests and better explanations came out. Science is based in doubt. If you are too sure of a scientific theory, you are missing what science really is about and what you need is religion.
  - jballanc 13y ago
    Falsifiability is a feature of every element of science. Something that is not falsifiable isn't science. Period. But a Theory is not a guess. It is a framework built from individual pieces, some of which may be hypotheses (effectively guesses) that have been tested and found to hold within the larger structure of that framework.
    - aortega 13y ago
      If you are based in individual pieces that may be effectively guesses, how you are not also a guess?

Mz 13y ago

I once explained to my (very argumentative) ex that when most people use words like "hypothesis" or "theory" they basically mean "guess." He was shocked and then said something like "that explains a lot of conversations I have had..." Of course, he meant their scientific definition, not remotely what most people meant when arguing with him.

vezzy-fnord 13y ago

Indeed, this is the reason why there is still so much backlash and state suppression of the highly established fact that is the theory of evolution. Equivocation on top of religious biases.

sirtroll 13y ago

do you know why is it called theory instead of theorem,lemma or law?