Warp wrote:
> Mueen Nawaz <m.n### [at] ieeeorg> wrote:
>>>>         And, AFAIK, that's the best explanation there is.
>>>   Except that it's not an explanation at all. It's simply stating the
>>> result of the experiment.
> 
>>         Isn't that what a theory is?
> 
>   No. A theory is a suggested explanation for a phenomenon, not just a
> description of the phenomenon.

Actually, a theory is a model that allows you to predict a wide range of 
events accurately. "God did it" is an explanation but not a theory.

>   An experiment measures a phenomenon. A theory is a suggested explanation
> of what causes that phenomenon.

Except that in physics (and most "hard" science), "explain" means 
"provide enough information to predict."

>   There are many theories which are untestable in practice. For example
> the existence of the so-called cosmic horizon is, by definition, untestable.

Nonsense. Unless you want to say the same of *every* horizon.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

Post a reply to this message