Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:28 am
Yes, but if you look at the range of religions, there are a lot of TOES.
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What is a good theory in science?
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Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:30 am
Have you examined all theories? How many are there and how many have you examined? Ad hoc hypotheses are used specifically, but the theories may still be unproven.uwot wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 7:02 amDifferent reasons. You could make any theory work 100% by adding ad hoc hypotheses to explain anomalies. You could add more epicycles and equates to Ptolemy's geocentric model and it would work perfectly, but apart from being extremely complicated the idea that we are stationary and that everything else is moving, to most people, is ridiculous.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 4:26 amHere's a good question for you, uwot. If a theory is working 100% effectively, then why more theories?
GR and QM are both working 100%, but they are based on different ideas. GR is based on the idea that the universe is made of smooth stuff, whereas QM shows quite clearly that it is lumpy. So there is a lot of effort put into reconciling these two views.
Ptolemy's geometric model violates Occam's Razor as it contains extraneous information so I don't regard it as a true theory.
PhilX
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:31 am
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:40 am
Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 8:31 amI don't regard religion as science. Apparently you don't have a true interest in science.
PhilX
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:58 am
Here's something else for you, uwot. Although your blogspot has pretty pictures (nonaminated though), it merely repeats common knowledge. It doesn't deal with science mysteries. For example it doesn't go into antimatter, not even speculation as to why antimatter is unstable.
PhilX
PhilX
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:00 am
Enough to do an MSc in History and Philosophy of Science. There's no way of telling how many theories there are, but I've had to critically analyse all the ones which are taken seriously by the scientific community.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 8:40 amI don't regard religion as science. Apparently you don't have a true interest in science.
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:09 am
Since you take religion seriously as a basis for TOE, then I don't regard you as a true scientist. I could ask you why you critically analysed all the TOEs taken seriously by the scientific community, but I don't see the point to doing that. It seems you stretch science to fit your own agenda so I can't have a serious discussion with you about it.uwot wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 9:00 amEnough to do an MSc in History and Philosophy of Science. There's no way of telling how many theories there are, but I've had to critically analyse all the ones which are taken seriously by the scientific community.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 8:40 amI don't regard religion as science. Apparently you don't have a true interest in science.
PhilX
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:11 am
That's because it's written as a book.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 8:58 am Here's something else for you, uwot. Although your blogspot has pretty pictures (nonaminated though)...
Well, it gives a novel mechanism for gravity and Dark Energy, but there's only so much you can fit into 50 pages. The idea though wasn't to explain everything from scratch, but rather to make common knowledge accessible to people who don't have the skills yet, or inclination to understand the Big Bang, Relativity and Quantum Mechanics mathematically.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 8:58 am...it merely repeats common knowledge. It doesn't deal with science mysteries. For example it doesn't go into antimatter, not even speculation as to why antimatter is unstable.
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:14 am
I don't think religion is any way to address science, but I think you have to take other people's views seriously, particularly if you are to challenge them.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 9:09 amSince you take religion seriously as a basis for TOE...
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 9:39 am
I don't take religion seriously as it often doesn't rely on science. That's why this forum has separate categories for science and religion. So I don't have to take religion-based "science" views seriously to challenge them.uwot wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 9:14 amI don't think religion is any way to address science, but I think you have to take other people's views seriously, particularly if you are to challenge them.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 9:09 amSince you take religion seriously as a basis for TOE...
PhilX
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 10:14 am
Who you take seriously and why is entirely your prerogative, but to disregard someone's scientific opinions because they hold some religious view is ad hominem. There's a lot of sound science you'd have to ignore. In my case you are not obliged to take anything I say seriously, but it can't be because of my religious beliefs, because I don't hold any.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 9:39 amI don't take religion seriously as it often doesn't rely on science.
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 10:19 am
Still my prerogative.uwot wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 10:14 amWho you take seriously and why is entirely your prerogative, but to disregard someone's scientific opinions because they hold some religious view is ad hominem. There's a lot of sound science you'd have to ignore. In my case you are not obliged to take anything I say seriously, but it can't be because of my religious beliefs, because I don't hold any.Philosophy Explorer wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 9:39 amI don't take religion seriously as it often doesn't rely on science.
PhilX
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 10:55 am
Of course. And as someone with experience of telemarketing, I'm sure you are used to people hanging up on you.
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 11:28 am
Re: What is a good theory in science?
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 12:51 pm
I will give a partial answer to the topic title.
A good theory:
1) Must be able to predict accurately.
2) Must have plenty of physical evidence. How much? Enough to allow the theory to predict accurately.
3) Also a good theory should be able to explain its subject
Anything else?
PhilX
A good theory:
1) Must be able to predict accurately.
2) Must have plenty of physical evidence. How much? Enough to allow the theory to predict accurately.
3) Also a good theory should be able to explain its subject
Anything else?
PhilX