Think Gene - Latest Comments in The inherent problem of scientific theories

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

acting auditions — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:54:49 -0000

In essence, while science finds theories that explain the observations that we see, we have no way of proving if it is the one correct theory.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

Leaflet_Printing — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:35:34 -0000

A simpler example: say my entire life, every swan I see is white. With reasonable confidence, I can assume that all swans are white. However, somewhere in the universe, there may be a black swan, disproving my theory.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

Christmas_Gift_Ideas — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:28:46 -0000

In essence, while science finds theories that explain the observations that we see, we have no way of proving if it is the one correct theory. It’s probably wrong —all refuted theories in the past have been.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

size_13_shoes — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:28:37 -0000

All that was done was eliminate some of the theories. Subtracting anything from infinity is still infinity.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

IftikharTirmizi — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:55:32 -0000

can assume that all swans are white. However, somewhere in the universe, there may be a black swan, disproving my theory. So then I could reasonably adjust my theory to say almost all swans are white.

size 13 shoes

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

Don — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:47:51 -0000

Science is not about being "correct" or "proving" theories. Science as a whole merely seeks to arrive at a consistent set of rules explaining our observations of the universe.
I wonder why you started by quoting Bayes theorem then not reference it?

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

drewyates — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:24:51 -0000

Hm, you're right that this is confusing. But we do have perfect information about mathematical systems because they are defined as such. I'll clarify this.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

joe — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:38:28 -0000

Hmm, not right. It's also true that for any given mathematical statement, there exists an infinite number of axiomatic systems under which that statement will be true. We choose the simple and useful ones --- just like in science.

Catch up on your Goedel -- it's only 70 years old now.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

Yann — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:45:29 -0000

Nice. I somewhat agree.

But, I think the point of science is not finding correct theories. This is the separate realm of philosophy. Science is about approximating an understanding of "how".

Ciao

PS: You make an unproven premise: "[an] infinite number of theories can explain [an observation]". Why would you say that? I could just as easily disagree.

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

Josh Hill — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:32:06 -0000

Yeah that is true and a very good point. It's why our theories and models work for our every day usage. Many of our theories and models work well enough at describing our perception of the world, which is why we use them and believe them to be true.

I'm curious though, what specifically about thermodynamics being "wrong" were you referring to?

Re: The inherent problem of scientific theories

Douglas — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:27:42 -0000

> It’s probably wrong — all refuted theories in the past have been.

Worth remembering that a model can be "wrong", but still useful and "correct" within a set of situations we care about. We know that thermodynamics is "wrong", but it's right most of the time, often enough for us to trust our lives to it every day. Though you already know that :-)