30 MAY 2012 by ideonexus

 Facts VS Theories

Facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts do not go away while scientists debate rival theories for explaining them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's, but apples did not suspend themselves in mid-air pending the outcome.
Folksonomies: data theory fact
Folksonomies: data theory fact
  1  notes

Facts are data, theories are the best truths we have extrapolated from them.

29 MAY 2012 by ideonexus

 Nature Works in Increments

Whatever Nature undertakes, she can only accomplish it in a sequence. She never makes a leap. For example she could not produce a horse if it were not preceded by all the other animals on which she ascends to the horse's structure as if on the rungs of a ladder. Thus every one thing exists for the sake of all things and all for the sake of one; for the one is of course the all as well. Nature, despite her seeming diversity, is always a unity, a whole; and thus, when she manifests herself in a...
Folksonomies: evolution science
Folksonomies: evolution science
  1  notes

All living things rely on the chain of all other living things before them.

13 APR 2012 by ideonexus

 Fact, Theory, and Understanding

Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts do not go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's, but apples did not suspend themselves in mid-air, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from apelike ancestors whether they did s...
Folksonomies: truth theory fact
Folksonomies: truth theory fact
  1  notes

Stephen J. Gould on science's evolving understanding of the Truth.