[Robert_T]

Originally Posted by wraithe

We have lots of theories, but they are not facts and most get dropped by the way side as crap...but while they are accepted as plausable, they are rammed down our throats as fact...if its a theory, then that is what it is, not even close to fact...so to dismiss theories as crap because it dont fit in with anothers theory, well thats just plain ignorant...Does any body really know why gravity works..NO, because we only have theories...the theory of relativity, is just that...
The theory that aliens are in space is just as plausible, as the theory of relativity, in fact probably more so, the mathematics of e.t's being out there is easier to accept...and understand...

Hi Again Wraithe, on reflection there's something else that I'm uncomfortable with in your use of the term theory. Just want to get some thoughts down here. There is a common misconception about scientific theory, that it equates to "speculation" or opinion. It certainly can't be regarded as "fact" (though few things in life could be regarded and agreed by all as such), but nor can it be really regarded as simply speculation. There seems to have been a conflation in many peoples minds of the meaning of scientific theory and the term "theory" as used in everyday speech (e.g. I've got a theory why the weekend days always seem shorter than workdays). In common usage the word "theory" has come to mean opinion or speculation (or just plain running off at the mouth), often of a single individual, and is often used to describe something that has been said (or believed) in a way that casts doubt on it's validity or basis.

Scientific theory does differ in some important ways from this common usage meaning. First, and most fundamentally, scientific theory is phrased so as to be testable, perhaps not always with the current technology available, but there must at least be the potential for testing and the criteria for testing and confirmation or refutation should be made explicit. Scientific theory should also be based on and be consistent with repeatable observations, generally from a range of different individuals. In short, scientific theories are based on stated evidence from observations and they invite challenge by others, and from fresh observations, that seek to test the theory, also from testable and repeatable observations and the evidence they generate. Again, they're not fact, but should a theory stand the test of time and the multiple challenges thrown at it, it should be regarded with considerable more respect than that embodied in common usage of the term "theory".

What scientific theories such as relativety and gravity etc do is they predict successfully and accurately the way certain aspects of the universe behave and in this way they enhance our understanding of, and ability to move through, our universe (e.g. we couldn't get probes to the outer reaches of the solar system without an accurate theory of gravity). These theories might not provide all the answers as to how something works but they do clearly aid our understanding. A belief in the plausability of alien life or even the possibility of alien visitation really doesn't function in the same way - regardless of whether it is true or not, it doesn't really aid our understanding of the way the universe works (at least not when phrased in such a generalistic way) on the way that testable and tested theories can.

cheers,