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But they are not actual theorems, and they could be "falsified" by observations that are inconsistent with the predictions.  When such inconsistencies arise, they are generally fairly minor:  If we were to observe apples falling upward tomorrow, it would upset our world view in a catastrophic manner.  The universe ''really does'' appear to behave consistently; that's what make scientific induction work in the first place.  But, in the end, it's a matter of human belief.

But they are not actual theorems, and they could be "falsified" by observations that are inconsistent with the predictions.  When such inconsistencies arise, they are generally fairly minor:  If we were to observe apples falling upward tomorrow, it would upset our world view in a catastrophic manner.  The universe ''really does'' appear to behave consistently; that's what make scientific induction work in the first place.  But, in the end, it's a matter of human belief.

Observations that falsify scientific theories are generally fairly minor, and often lead to extensions of the theories.  Quantum mechanics has overthrown our interpretation of F = ma, but that formula is still accepted as extremely important and very nearly true.

Observations that falsify well-established scientific theories are generally fairly minor, and often lead to extensions of the theories.  Quantum mechanics has overthrown our interpretation of F = ma, but that formula is still accepted as extremely important and very nearly true.

==Falsifiability==

==Falsifiability==

An important aspect of a scientific theory is the notion of "falsifiability", made famous by philosopher [[Karl Popper]].  Simply put, a theory is falsifiable if one could imagine circumstances under which it wouldn't be true.  If one can't, then the theory may not be scientifically acceptable.  For example, gravity might have been an inverse-cube law.  Observations were performed that led Isaac Newton to conclude that it was an inverse-square law.  An inverse-cube law would have led to different observations.  A theory that says, for example, "blue is a triangular color", is unfalsifiable.  One couldn't conceive of an experiment to test it.  Unfalsifiable "scientific theories" are generally met with great skepicism.

An important aspect of a scientific theory is the notion of "falsifiability", made famous by philosopher [[Karl Popper]].  Simply put, a theory is falsifiable if one could imagine circumstances under which it wouldn't be true.  If one can't, then the theory may not be scientifically acceptable.  For example, gravity might have been an inverse-cube law.  Observations were performed that led Isaac Newton to conclude that it was an inverse-square law.  An inverse-cube law would have led to different observations.  A theory that says, for example, "blue is a triangular color", is unfalsifiable.  One couldn't conceive of an experiment to test it.  Unfalsifiable "scientific theories" are generally met with great skepticism.

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