QUESTION for EVERYONE -- Will you please define the word "theory" as it's used in a scientific context?

Question

I realize that this isn't the "science" section, but since it's apparently deemed acceptable by so many to participants to bicker over "evolution *vs* creation" and whether or not evolution is scientifically valid, I want to see how everyone responds as this directly relates to the previously mentioned topic. I want to see who knows what they're talking about and who doesn't.

That should read "...by so many participants to bicker..."

I guess I got a bit ahead of myself. Sorry about that. Carry on.

Answer 1

In science, a theory is a mathematical or logical explanation, or a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition. For example, it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the theories commonly used to describe and explain this behaviour are Newton's theory of universal gravitation (see also gravitation), and general relativity.

Answer 2

I think a theory as it is used in science is a logical explanation of natural phenomena. A theory is composed of facts, proved hypothesis, natural laws etc.... A scientific theory encompasses a wide range of data. Predictions, tested hypothesis, controlled experiments etc...
The word theory has been bastardized by lay persons and has become a misnomer to mean speculation, opinions, etc.

I would not equate the creation story to be a theory. Nor would I call it a hypothesis since that is usually an educated guess. The creation story = The creation Hunch
I don`t know why the theory of evolution is not a law. I`m a
lay person myself but I think it`s because certain aspects of it is left up to interpretation. The contention that all life evolved from the same terrestrial tree is a fact, but by what means is up for interpretation. Most scientists think that natural selection is the main mechanism, others do not. Then there is the selection of units problem. On what level does natural selection work. Again most think that selection takes place merely on the genetic level (Richard Dawkins - Selfish gene)
others do not.

Answer 3

FROM WWW.DICTIONARY.COM: A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena: the theory of relativity. A hypothesis is a conjecture put forth as a possible explanation of phenomena or relations, which serves as a basis of argument or experimentation to reach the truth: This idea is only a hypothesis.

A theory is more than an hypothesis. It requires repeated observations or measurements that agree.

Evolution and Creation have never been observed, and cannot be measured, so cannot be theories.

Both are hypotheses.

Answer 4

A "theory" is a proposed answer or explanation for a defined question or problem. It becomes a generally accepted theory when most scientists accept it a probable fact ----The "truth" until a better theory is accepted.

I would add that Evolution is a generally accepted theory. This does not necessarily conflict with the idea of Creation if you consider it a method, and not an origin.

Answer 5

Theory in science, an explanation for observational data. good scientific theory explains as much of the data as possible (a perfect theory would explain all of it), is as elegant as possible, and requires as few miracles as possible. A bad scientific theory conflicts with the data, is less elegant than another theory attempting to explain the same data, or requires miracles.

In philosophy, a set of propositions and their closure under logical implication, used to present a view about some philosophical issue. A good philosophical theory is consistent, is elegant and requires few miracles, but ordinarily does not need to explain any observational data. (Sometimes, however, philosophical theories are constructed in order to explain certain intuitions people have about notions such as free will, meaning, or the world before they begin to think in philosophical terms.) A bad philosophical theory often is inconsistent, requires an inelegant ontology or is question-begging.

Answer 6

A scientific theory is a claim, supported by evidence and repeated testing, which attempts to explain a particular (usually natural) phenomenon. Theories are open to revision, as well as abandonment.

The more solid the evidence, the more solid the theory. Typically, when enough experts (learned people who specialize in a given field of study) show widespread acceptance of a theory for a long enough period of time, the theory is considered a scientific "law."

Of course, this does not mean the general public sees it that way.

Answer 7

Theory is the branch of a science (or an art form, for that matter) that deals with its principles or methods, as opposed to its actual practice. It's not the same as a hypothesis, which would be an UNTESTED conjecture. A theory, by definition, has been repeatedly tested, is widely accepted, and can be used to make demonstrably accurate forecasts about natural phenomena, and provides a methodology to obtain reproduceable results.

Edit: Got to love Brent's reference to a WAG (below); I hadn't thought about THAT in years!

Answer 8

a theory is NOT a hypothesis as some people said.

a theory is an explanation of observed facts. it takes a large body of evidence and explains in simpler terms what those facts mean. evolution is a theory.

take something like abiogenesis.... there are several hypotheses about it, but none have enough evidence to make any a theory.

take creation/ID. it tries to explain something, generally misinterpreted science( or lack of anything) but uses something very complex to explain it. god did it is so much more complex that it raises more questions than it explains.

Answer 9

Theory is a tested hypothesis with significant evidentiary support and no contradictory evidence.

Religionists tend to get confused because they treat theory as equivalent to a WAG - Wild A**ed Guess.

Answer 10

A theory is a hypothesis regarding a phenomenon in nature.
It is internally consistent.
It is based in observed evidence.
It makes testable predictions.
It offers a mechanism to be disproven.
It is extensively tested by verifying the predictions using future observations and failure to be disproven by the challenges the mechanisms by which it would be disproven.