Changes

Fact

377 bytes added, 21:38, July 31, 2008
A ''fact'' is a conceptstatistic, statement, thing, scientific lawdatum, or event that has been unequivocally (indisputably) proven to be trueis objective, observable, and recordable.  Facts are always based on concrete verified used as evidence which substantiate their truthto make claims. Facts are generally held to be [[mind-independent]], i.e. they would continue to be the case whether or not anyone believed them, or indeed whether or not there were any minds to believe them in the first place.
[[category:philosophy]]
 
Facts are different from theories, which attempt to explain trends in facts. Facts are also different from opinions, which are subjective interpretations of facts.
 
In history and journalism, "facts" refer to recorded, independently-verifiable events or statistics. In science, "facts" are observations or data, (fact: at sea-level, water boils at 100 degrees Celcius) and theories are abstract principles of science (theory: liquids have boiling-points).
17
edits