Theories invoke confirmations out of the logical form If P then Q where an affirmation of Q cannot guarantee P. Theorems on the other hand invoke confirmations out of the logical form Iff P then Q where an affirmation of Q unequivocally also establishes P. Theorems are confined to areas analytic - math and logic - they do not also cover theories (explanations). Scientific theories are not theorems but rather are explanations and most explanations actually cant even be arguments anyway. It is literally illogical and a major misunderstanding of science and its theories, the nature of theories generally, to ask for a theory to be proved or to not realise that one is being asked a nonsense question when one is being asked for a proof. Also there is no such thing as The Scientific Method. Believing so is an example of scientism. Instead there are a myriad of methods each employed according to their appropriateness. Ray comfort asks not for many but for just one observation that proves evolution. But logic informs us that no single observation can ever unequivocally affirm a theoretical conditional proposition. For any one observation and even multiple observations there is always the possibility of some other explanation. As I have said before - observing the suns rising might be invoked in support of heliocentircism yet that one observation could be more simply invoked in support of geocentricism - such is the weakness in pursuits of some single observation that supports or proves a theory. The strength of a theory is measured not by it being supported by one single observation but rather that it explains all related observations and so not one but a list of observation must be invoked when trying to demonstrate that a theory is a good explanation. The theory of evolution is not confirmed and, like all theories, nor can it be proved, by any single observation - instead it is the best explanation for all the observations taken as a whole. Stephen might say something about this.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 15:47:12 +0000
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