[Vision2020] nature of science; an anniversary

[Stephen Cooke]

Dear Visionaries,
	Karl Popper has shown that theories in science cannot be proven but
only disproved.( Popper, K. R. The logic of scientific discovery. London ;
New York: Routledge, 1992.) Deductive ideas or theories are subjected to
inductive or empirical tests. Since there are conceivably an infinite number
of empirical tests and since any one of them could disprove a theory, a
theory can never be verified once and for all time. The best you can ever
say about a scientific theory is that it has not yet been disproved. This is
the falsification methodology of science as opposed to a verification
approach. The latter is often implied when mention is made of scientific
facts. Science doesn't work that way.
	You can see the mischief that is possible by those who would prefer
to discount science by preying on this subtle but important distinction in
the scientific method. For example, the "intelligent design" advocates of
the origin of life would equate a Book of Genesis idea that is not  testable
(and therefore not science at all) w/ Darwinian evolution that is not only
testable but has withstood countless tests and declare "these are just
theories, neither is proven, therefore both are equally possible." This is a
half true statement at best and misleading to say the least.
	On another note. This is the 10th anniversary of the Vision2020 list
service set up by Greg Brown in Spring 1995 if I am not mistaken. May the
conversation continue for another ten.
Steve Cooke