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Old 11-25-2007, 11:13 PM   #19 (permalink)
anhailla
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Denie View Post
Please, empirical scientific data only. Not cut and paste (believe me, we've all seen it over and over) credulous theories about explosives, thermite, etc. from the many CT sites out there. There are many other threads here where you can post these types of things

And for those out there confused as to what a scientific theory and empirical evidence is, here are definitions of what criteria is required.

Logical Criteria

A scientific theory must be:
1. a simple unifying idea that postulates nothing unnecessary ("Occam's Razor")
2. logically consistent
3. logically falsifiable (i.e., cases must exist in which the theory can be imagined to be invalid)
4. clearly limited by explicit boundary conditions so that it is clear whether or not particular data are or are not relevant to verification or falsification

Empirical Criteria

A scientific theory must:
1. be empirically testable or lead to predictions or retrodictions that are testable
2. actually make verified predictions and/or retrodictions
3. involve reproducible results
4. provide criteria for the interpretation of data as factual, artifactual, anomalous or irrelevant

Sociological Criteria

A scientific theory must:
1. resolve recognized problems, paradoxes, and/or anomalies irresolvable on the basis of preexisting theories
2. pose a new set of scientific problems upon which scientists may work
3. suggest a "paradigm" or problem solving model to help resolve these new problems
4. provide definitions of concepts or operations which will help other scientists solve problems.

Historical Criteria

A scientific theory must:
1. meet or surpass all of the criteria set by its predecessors or demonstrate that any abandoned criteria are artifactual
2. be able to explain all of the data gathered under previous relevant theories in terms either of fact or artifact (no anomalies allowed)
3. be consistent with all preexisting ancillary theories that already have established scientific validity.

Overall, the criteria for scientific theories can be loosely be summarized by a few basic principles. Scientific theories are:

Consistent (internally and externally)
Parsimonious (sparing in proposed entities or explanations)
Useful (describes and explains observed phenomena)
Empirically Testable & Falsifiable
Based upon Controlled, Repeated Experiments
Correctable & Dynamic (changes are made as new data is discovered)
Progressive (achieves all that previous theories have and more)
Tentative (admits that it might not be correct rather than asserting certainty)

Please, this thread is for "scientific theories" (as discribed above) not "theories" as there is a very large difference in the two. Please also remember any evidence you bring forth needs to follow empirical law.

Thank You.
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