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Old 01-08-2011, 05:46 PM
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sjastro
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marki View Post
If assumptions are put in place in the abscence of evidence however you wish Steven.


Mark
Mark,

Scientific theory makes predictions not assumptions.
A theory stands or falls on the basis of evidence. A theory can be supported but not proved by evidence. Evidence however can disprove a theory.

There seems to an issue here regarding where mathematics ends and science begins.

When a theoretical physicist uses mathematics to develop a theory, the maths he uses is proven. This is what distinguishes maths from science. This doesn't however "prove" the theory.
The theory still has to be self consistent, and falsifiable (subject to observational and/or experimental evidence).

This puts it in the realm of physics not mathematics.

Regards

Steven
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