Is it possible to prove a theory?

Answer 1

In the scientific sense, no, but it is always possible to disprove it.

Answer 2

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on how well we understand the laws governing a particular situation, such as when you design a puzzle for someone else to solve and they propose their theoretical solutions. Since you know the exact solution, you can say with 100% certainty if their theoretical solutions are wrong. But that is a special case scenario invoked to demonstrate that sometimes a theory can be proven 100%, but those cases are rare in general practice. Nature is never that ideal.

It's a paradox.

We can never prove a theory to 100% certainty, but we can eventually disprove a theory with 100% certainty if it's wrong - provided it's a scientific theory.

Only a truly scientific theory is falsifiable. That means if science has no possible means of disproving a theory, then it simply can't study the problem and it's not a scientific issue unless it can be effectively studied by the tools of science.

Religious theories are non scientific theories because science has no way to test them one way or another. They are blind beliefs, not hindered in any manner by logic, reason, intelligence or physical evidence and consequently not even possible to test at all.

Conformance to a theory does not prove it is correct 100% of the time, only to the extent that we have not yet observed any exceptions to it, but a single documented exception where the theory fails qualifies to disprove it with 100% certainty.

Example:
If we theorize that palm trees only grow in a tropical climate and every where we look, that is the only place we see one, then it seems like the theory is true - but we still can't say so with 100% certainty because there may still be places we haven't yet found to look. However if a palm tree is found growing in Antarctica, then the theory is disproven with 100% certainty.

There is one exception to the rule of theoretical certainty - that applies only in the case where the specific law that governs the theory is exactly known - like in applied mathematics.

For example we can prove with 100% certainty that 1+1 = 2, because the law that governs this definition is exactly known. This is why mathematics is sometimes called an "exact science", because when we define the laws ourselves, we don't need to theorise and test what we already know with certainty.

But, when it comes to theories of nature, then no theory can be 100% certain of being correct. The reason is because we simply cannot view the total universe and see if or not there may be an exception lurking out there somewhere. We can only be certain to a specified level of probability.

The longer the theory persists without finding an exception, the greater is the assumed probability that it just may be correct, but this probability cannot, by definition, ever reach 100% certainty.

Only when disproven is it with 100% certainty.

Answer 3

While mathematics has its own rules for various systems to determine if a statement is true, the scientific method, as applied to physics and other natural sciences, determines the present status of a theory. Typically, an experiment starts out with an assumption that something is true, a hypothesis. If the statement is “falsifiable,” an experiment is performed to attempt to disprove the statement. If the theory is not disproven, it is allowed to remain as a theory until it is disproven. This process is repeated and varied many times. The longer that a theory withstands the scrutiny of various experiments, the more credible it becomes. Thus, “It follows from this that for scientists ‘theory’ and ‘fact’ do not necessarily stand in opposition.” For all practical purposes, a well-established theory is considered a scientific fact -- particularly if it is falsifiable and not yet proven false.

Answer 4

It's never possible to prove a theory, they can only be tested. Maybe a thousand years from now, a theory that is "set in stone" will be disproved. Think of the discovery of the Americas... the "world is flat" theory went out the door on that day!

Answer 5

Absolutely.

In fact, if it, whatever it is that is postulated, is rightfully a theory, it has to be testable. Otherwise, it may be a philosophy or something similar, but it is not a theory.

To prove something, that something has to be testable. So called string theory, for example, is not yet testable; so many physicists consider it to be more a philosophy than a theory.

The theory of relativity is in fact a theory because many of its tenets, like dilation of time and bending of space, have been proved valid. Quantum theory is another provable theory.

As a point to consider, proving a theory does not mean necessarily to prove it to be valid. Testing can also prove a theory to be invalid as well. The key to whether it is a theory or not is whether we can test that theory.

Answer 6

Of Course. Much of today's accepted scientific facts began life as a theory. It is, of course, much easier to disprove a theory - all it takes is one exception to the rule. Sometimes all it takes to prove a theory is newer technology in order to properly test the theory. In some instances, the results of testing may never prove a theory - even though no exceptions are ever forthcoming. (i.e. I have a theory that keeping my grass short prevents elephants from stomping on the dandylions. There have been no exceptions to this theory to date.

Answer 7

Generally speaking no, because whatever the success of a theory, another successful theory oh the same phenomenon is always possible (Einstein dixit).
For my taste, a theory can be proven only when its model of the world can be confirmed by a direct visual observation. I cannot see
the reality discribed by the general theory of relativity, but we have all seen pictures oh the earth taken from the moon, so the sphericity of the earth is proven.

Answer 8

TEST TEST TEST and test again. Get your research published in a scientific journal. Then let pros test it over and over again. This will let you get close to proving a theory. The idea is to try and dipprove the theory. Look up "SCIENTIFIC MODEL" on google