Given that all scientists are also laypeople I'd say fact. For example, is that computer actually in front of you? Well, no, not when you examine it very closely (below 1x10^-32)
So now do we debate what a fact is? The bottom line is that a theory is predictive until it's not and, even when it isn't, it still might be "fact". E.g., newton's theory of gravity is fact for most uses; I.e. At a certain level of granularity. And objective reality seems factual for most common uses ... Above a certain level of granularity that is. Below that there is no objective reality. In other words you don't actually exist below 1x10^-32. So "fact" depends on your philosophy. If I can use a theory predictively, and it's accurate for my use, then it's as close to fact as can be in my subjective reality. QED. On Sep 13, 2011, at 11:17 AM, GMoney <[email protected]> wrote: > > Well, yeah, that should have said: A scientific theory basically represents > a layperson's "fact". > > On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Sam <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> And then there's folks that say this: >> >> I didn't have the heart to tell 'Im. A theory basically means scientific >> fact - GG >> >> . >> >> On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 11:28 AM, 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". >>> >>> Theories indeed are just waiting to be proven wrong..that's the beauty of >>> science...you keep exploring, researching, and tomorrow you know more >> than >>> you did yesterday. Thus, the longer a theory can hang around, the >> stronger >>> it becomes....and evolution is what, about 160 years old? >>> >> >> >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| 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:342538 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
