I'll toss in one more item into this (quite good) discussion on scientific theory versus a laymans notion of a theory and that is this:
A scientific theory not only has explanatory value (it tries to explain observed phenomena) it also should have predictive value, ie, it should be able to make verifiable statements about phenomena not yet observed that can then be tested in future experiments/observations. Cheers, Judah On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 8:41 AM, Vivec <[email protected]> wrote: > > Great, then we are all on the same page regarding what a Scientific Theory > is and why it is different to any other random theory. > > On 13 September 2011 11:28, GMoney <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 10:20 AM, Sam <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> > >> > The difference between a layman's theory and a scientific theory is >> > more research behind the theory. That doesn't make it true, just more >> > convincing. And of course scientific theories usually generate an >> > influx of experiments to prove it wrong or right >> > >> You are correct, and that is a HUGE difference. People act as if someone >> just dreamed up evolution, called it a "theory", then a few bones later >> everyone thinks it true. The dismissive phrase "it's just a theory" is >> ridiculous when talking about a scientific theory...that's like saying a >> billion dollars is "just a few bucks". ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Order the Adobe Coldfusion Anthology now! http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Coldfusion-Anthology/dp/1430272155/?tag=houseoffusion Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:342510 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
