Fwd: A Problem For Conservatives

[Robert D. Zimmerman]

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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 2003 22:53:28 EST
Subject: Fwd: A Problem For Conservatives
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

In a message dated 1/6/03 4:42:55 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

The statement is, in fact, correct -- at least according to what is taught
in The Netherlands. Proper procedure is not to develop a theory and then try
to prove it, but to develop a theory and then try and *disprove* it. That
way you can prevent scientists from ignoring data that disproves their
theory.

You are talking about Karl Popper's notion that the thing that defines scientfic knowledge as opposed to religous knowledge is that scientific notions must at least in principle be falsifiable. Therefore no theory can ever be taken to be absolutely true since a falsifying experiment or observation may occur at any point in the future. What scientist do is test a theory in various circumstances. The more tests a theory passes the more likely it is to be true. Very few scientists actively try to disprove their own theories (they are after all the scientist's babies) but rather they attempt to see if theory holds in many circumstances. Others may try to disprove or test a theory they do not like. This really not a method for keeping scientists honest, it is rather a basic facet our species,