17-02-2013, 10:26 PM
(This post was last modified: 13-04-2013, 05:54 AM by Adele Edisen.)
Oh, how I wish the word 'theory' were allowed to be used only by scientists, philosophers, and other learned persons. It is a term describing an explanation more accurate, more based on reputable evidence and fact, than 'hypothesis' which is closer to a 'guess', in terms of being truthful. In science the level of truthfulness (accuracy) goes from hypothesis to theory to scientific law (applicable everywhere, as far as is known and tested and observed).
Example: the geocentric idea that the sun revolved around the earth, as we now know and think, was a "hypothesis'. The heliocentric idea that the earth revolved around the sun was a 'theory'. It can be called a law, if one wishes, or the Truth, factually true.
Example: The First Law of Thermodynamics states that matter and energy cannot be destroyed nor created anew, but only changed in form, as when a glucose molecule in the human body is changed into carbon dioxide gas, water, and energy during metabolism.
So much controversy arises when words are mistakenly used.
Adele
Example: the geocentric idea that the sun revolved around the earth, as we now know and think, was a "hypothesis'. The heliocentric idea that the earth revolved around the sun was a 'theory'. It can be called a law, if one wishes, or the Truth, factually true.
Example: The First Law of Thermodynamics states that matter and energy cannot be destroyed nor created anew, but only changed in form, as when a glucose molecule in the human body is changed into carbon dioxide gas, water, and energy during metabolism.
So much controversy arises when words are mistakenly used.
Adele