Talk:Scientific Law
From http://wilstar.com/theories.htm
A Scientific Law is a statement of fact meant to explain, in concise terms, an action or set of actions. It is generally accepted to be true and univseral, and can sometimes be expressed in terms of a single mathematical equation. Scientific laws are similar to mathematical postulates. They don’t really need any complex external proofs; they are accepted at face value based upon the fact that they have always been observed to be true.
From Wikipedia
A scientific law, or empirical law, or empirical generalisation is a law-like statement that generalises across a set of conditions (e.g. time, countries, temperatures). To be accorded law-like status a wide variety of these conditions should be known, i.e. the law has a well documented history of successful replication and extension to new conditions. Ideally boundary conditions, where the law fails, should also be known.
From http://sci.waikato.ac.nz/evolution/Theories.shtml
A scientific law is a description of a natural phenomenon or principle that invariably holds true under specific conditions and will occur under certain circumstances.
I would suggest that the definition should include the following four items:
- It is an empirical generalisation
- It is meant to apply universally within the context in which it is stated
- It is true
- It has been repeatedly verified.
--AvengingAngel 18:01, 26 April 2007 (EDT)