What is the difference between fact and opinion?

Question

Facts are decided by man. Everyday there is some new "breakthrough" that changes the way that we look at some disease/cure. Pluto was a planet when it was discovered and now it is not. New science disproves old science everyday. So how is fact different from opinion?

Webmaster, you have given the first and only answer with any actual thought put into it.

Answer 1

I guess a scientific fact, is a fact until it's disproved. Probably like most facts in life.

Answer 2

A fact is a verifiable observation, something that is an actuality.

An opinion is a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter

Most all of science is fact based. For example when Pluto was found, it fit in the parameters of being a "planet"

"Pluto is now recognized as the largest member of a distinct region called the Kuiper belt. Like other members of the belt, it is composed primarily of rock and ice and is relatively small; approximately a fifth the mass of the Earth's Moon and a third its volume. It has an eccentric orbit that takes it from 30 to 49 AU (4.4–7.4 billion km) from the Sun, and is highly inclined with respect to the planets. As a result, Pluto occasionally comes closer to the Sun than the planet Neptune does."

Most of science is based on theories. They start out as conjecture, based upon observations which become theories. As more information is gathered, the theory is refined. .

Just as the Catholic church once insisted that the Sun revolves around the Earth, As new evidence was collected (by Gallilo) it took time for the new information to sink in, but was finally accepted.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I dont understand how pluto being a planet and now its not is an opinion.. disproving science is not an opinion.. an opinion is usually one to a few ppl believing something a fact usually has a lot of ppl believing

Answer 4

If you were impressed by webmaster's answer, then I wonder what all the 'Evolution is a fact' statements really mean?

lol

Now I have to wonder how far people will go to teach children that evolution is a fact, when it's only a temporary thing.

Weasels are in abundance.

Answer 5

A fact is an oppinion that has been through several tests and has stood and proven true and is now what is called a theory. But even this is hard to believe for things can be proven opposite to the theory that has stood for a long time. But i guess youve won me over there the same.

Answer 6

Facts are objective, and opinions are subjective. Now the only facts that I know are proven mathematical equations, and proven scientific facts, because most truths are relative and depend on one's viewpoint.

To the guy below me Tuberoot, it's called the *theory* of evolution.

"2.a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact."

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=theory&x=0&y=0

Answer 7

You are conflating fact with definition or labeling.

Pluto was a planet by DEFINITION not fact. Pluto is no longer a planet by definition. No astronomer debates the existence or non existence of Pluto. The debate is over what "heavenly" bodies constitute planets and which do not.

Answer 8

Even if something were an immutable fact, our understanding of it would be relative based upon the day and age in which we live. Knowledge is not absolute. It evolves as our ability to understand evolves.

Answer 9

I shall briefly explain to you the difference between a fact and an opinion: a fact is a fact, an opinion is an opinion.

Answer 10

Fact .Is when I received Jesus in my heart in my room I felt peace and love.It really happened.

My opinion is saying I think John Denver is in heaven