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No scientific theory can be said to be absolutely true, but a successful theory is most consistent with the actual behavior of the universe.  When a phenomenon is discovered that is inconsistent with the prevailing theory, the theory is either revised or thrown out entirely.  An example of this is  [[Newtonian mechanics]]--while Newton's 3 laws of motion provide extremely accurate descriptions/predictions of the behavior of medium-sized objects at low speeds, they are inconsistent with the behavior of very large, very fast, or very small objects.  Newtonian mechanics has been shown to be a limiting case of the [[theory of relativity]] (in the limit where velocity goes to 0) and [[quantum mechanics]] (in the limit where [[Planck's constant]] goes to 0, essentially the limit of large objects).  Usually a theory which is inconsistent with some experimental evidence is not completely falsified; it is instead shown to be a simplified version of a more complete theory.

No scientific theory can be said to be absolutely true, but a successful theory is most consistent with the actual behavior of the universe.  When a phenomenon is discovered that is inconsistent with the prevailing theory, the theory is either revised or thrown out entirely.  An example of this is  [[Newtonian mechanics]]--while Newton's 3 laws of motion provide extremely accurate descriptions/predictions of the behavior of medium-sized objects at low speeds, they are inconsistent with the behavior of very large, very fast, or very small objects.  Newtonian mechanics has been shown to be a limiting case of the [[theory of relativity]] (in the limit where velocity goes to 0) and [[quantum mechanics]] (in the limit where [[Planck's constant]] goes to 0, essentially the limit of large objects).  Usually a theory which is inconsistent with some experimental evidence is not completely falsified; it is instead shown to be a simplified version of a more complete theory.

In contrast to scientific consensus, science philosopher [[Karl Popper]] asserts that the [[theory of evolution]] could be considered a metaphysical research program depending on the definition being used. <ref>The science philosopher Karl Popper famously called Darwinian evolution a "metaphysical research program".</ref> depends on the [[definitions of evolution]] in use.

In contrast to scientific consensus, science philosopher [[Karl Popper]] asserted that the [[theory of evolution]] could be considered a metaphysical research program depending on the definition being used. <ref>The science philosopher Karl Popper famously called Darwinian evolution a "metaphysical research program".</ref> depends on the [[definitions of evolution]] in use.

== Common usage ==  

== Common usage ==