Scientific theory

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==External links==
 
==External links==
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theories/ Theories Guide], a detailed description on Theories
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theories/ Theories Guide], a detailed description on Theories
* [http://www.essayontime.com/services/essay.html/ Buy Essay], a must see
 
 
* [http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/appendixe/appendixe.html/ Introduction to the Scientific Method], an important site
 
* [http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/appendixe/appendixe.html/ Introduction to the Scientific Method], an important site

Revision as of 07:03, 30 March 2009

Scientific theory is a series of statements about the causal elements for a given effect. It is a key element of the scientific method. Although in common parlance anything that attempts to describe a cause can be dubbed a theory, a scientific theory has several more specific meanings, depending on the context.

  • A well-substantiated explanation for a series of facts and observations. Theories are the main goal in science and no explanation can achieve a higher "rank."
  • A complex suite of theories (see above) and scientific laws (see below) built up over time that unify the scientific community's view and approach to a particular scientific field. Biology has the theory of evolution, Geology has plate tectonic theory and Cosmology has the Big Bang.
  • “Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.

Common misconceptions about theories

"Just" a theory

Creationist and Intelligent design proponents often like to describe the theory of evolution as just a theory. This relies on equivocating the common usage of the term theory (meaning "idea" or "guess"; the scientific term is hypothesis) with the scientific meaning. Theories are the single highest level of scientific achievement and nothing is just a theory. It would be like saying Bill Gates is just a multibillionaire. Additionally, one might say that the notion of evolution is "just a theory" in the same way that Cell Theory and the Theory of Gravitation (fundamental principles of biology and physics, respectively) are "just theories."

This argument played out with hilarious ramifications in the recent decision of the Florida State Board of Education to teach evolution as a "scientific theory." Apparently, the creationists on the Florida SBOE thought that this was a "compromise" - by making evolution a "scientific theory" at law, they thought, it would weaken the position of evolution. After all, then it would be "just a theory," right?[1] WRONG. This "compromise" puts evolution on the exactly right footing - at the highest tier of science - and ensures that students will be taught about what the term "scientific theory" really means, hopefully eventually drawing the sting of the colloquial meaning confusion.[2]

Theories are different from Laws

Another common misconception is that a theory is the step you go through while on your way to a law of science. Scientific laws and theories are two very different things and one never becomes the other. Scientific laws are factual observations usually derived from mathematical modeling. Theories are the causal explanations behind what creates the laws and observations of science. Theories also combine laws into a theoretical framework that is greater than the sum of its parts. For example, many different laws describe how genes interact in different combinations to influence heredity. Genetic theory combines such laws into a theoretical framework. Evolutionary theory combines genetic theory, the theory of natural selection and other theories with the various laws with which they are associated into a complex framework that forms the basis of much research in the field of biology.

Even superb theories, or laws, can be superceded by more successful theories. For instance, Newton's "Law" of gravitation is superb at predicting the path of a spacecraft among the outer planets of the Solar system, but it breaks down when large masses are involved, such at that of the sun. The precession of the aphelion of Mercury can only be explained by Einstein's general relativity, which is a refinement of Newton's Law taking into account the slight bending of spacetime near the sun.

Falsified theories are no longer scientific theories

Clearly, if a theory has been falsified it no longer fulfills the definitions at the start of the article. It may well still be a "theory" is the sense of the common usage, but in scientific terms it has become a superseded theory. For example, geocentrism was a theory, as was the concept of four elements; Earth, Fire, Wind and Water and Larmarckian evolution which turned out to be less than accurate. These have been disproved conclusively enough (although some will beg to differ). However, the more common case of how modern theories are "falsified" is explained below.

Theories are subject to change, therefore they are nonsense

Science's understanding of the universe is indeed subject to change. Theories will usually evolve from a less accurate to a more accurate version of reality. However, it is a major misconception that when theories change the change is massive and total. Even when major or fundamental principles are altered, the change is minor. Many people believe that Einstein came along and made all of Newton's theories redundant (some will also say that quantum theory usurped relativity and that string theory usurped quantum theory...). This is not the case, even the largest changes to our understanding are relatively small. Theories are changed by small steps and new ones will usually consist of the old one with a bit added. Quite often the original theory still works fine for most situations, as Newtonian mechanics does at slower speeds where relativistic effects are negligible.

A "Theory of Everything" that combines quantum mechanics and gravity will still resemble quantum mechanics. The Schrodinger Equation, Hartree-Fock theory, spin dynamics and particle-wave duality, fundamental components of quantum mechanics will all still be there, as useful and accurate as ever.

Footnotes

  1. The Discovery Institute is pissed off about this.
  2. Panda's Thumb, along with all of science, is pretty happy though.

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