I'm arguing that dismissing scientific Theory as "just a theory, since it's not 100% proved" is wrong on its face, because to do so is to ignore the context of the use of the word.
In science, Theory *is* an explanation of a wide range of facts. A Theory can include many forms of evidence (including scientific Laws). When a Theory is "disproved" those facts don't simply cease to exist as fact. Oxidation occurs. Combustion occurs. Did then, does now. Phlogiston Theory attempted to explain why. It could not do so, based on experimentation, and was "disproved." Another, better explanation, another Theory, was posited to explain the evidence, the facts. So, while Phlogiston Theory was disproved, the facts that were gathered together under its "umbrella" were not. On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 9:55 AM, Sam <[email protected]> wrote: > > Are you arguing facts are good enough until they're not? > > The Phlogiston Theory was never a fact. Just a damn good explanation > to hold us over until real facts kicked in. > > At least that's how I see it. > > Just like Hawkins black hole theory which was opposed from beginning. > Just because a smart guy has a great theory doesn't make it a fact. I > do realize many theories are fact or will eventually become facts. > Just not all and I don't except the "fact for now concept". > > . > > > On Wed, Sep 14, 2011 at 12:34 PM, William Bowen <[email protected]> > wrote: >> >> It had to do with the nature of what we now know as combustion and >> oxidation, which, when posited seemed to be the best explanation of >> how fire or rust consumed matter. >> >> As more evidence became available, and experiments were designed to >> test the Phlogiston Theory, it was disproved because better >> explanation were made to fit the available evidence. >> >> That's how the Scientific Method works. That's how it is *supposed* to work. >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| 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:342596 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/unsubscribe.cfm
