Quote:
Originally Posted by Hauling
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http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theory
Number five as it applies to scientific theory.
Essential criteria:
The defining characteristic of a scientific theory is that it makes falsifiable or testable predictions. The relevance and specificity of those predictions determine how potentially useful the theory is. A would-be theory that makes no predictions that can be observed is not a useful theory. Predictions not sufficiently specific to be tested are similarly not useful. In both cases, the term "theory" is hardly applicable.
In practice a body of descriptions of knowledge is usually only called a theory once it has a minimum empirical basis, according to certain criteria:
* It is consistent with pre-existing theory, to the extent the pre-existing theory was experimentally verified, though it will often show pre-existing theory to be wrong in an exact sense.
* It is supported by many strands of evidence, rather than a single foundation, ensuring it is probably a good approximation, if not totally correct.
Pay particular attention to the second piece of criteria needed to be met to be classified as a theory.
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Hahaha. WIKI RULZ.
[URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory"]
Why do you keep defining Theory? Is that your argument against the multitude of things I presented?