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| | Mathematical derivations are also commonly used to support a theory and predict results, but only an experiment can provide conclusive evidence (relativity, for example, could not have been predicted by math alone). | | Mathematical derivations are also commonly used to support a theory and predict results, but only an experiment can provide conclusive evidence (relativity, for example, could not have been predicted by math alone). |
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| − | ==Scientific treatment of theories and facts==
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| − | 1) If a theory has no proof it remains an abstract concept<s>, that will not be thought in schools</s>.
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| − | ::*Abstract concepts are taught in schools.
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| − | Example: String theory in physics has not yet been proven.
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| − | <s>2) If a theory can never be proven or disproven it is not considered to be scientific and science will not study it.
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| − | Example: the existence of God(s) can never be proven or disproven by scientific experiments,
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| − | and the concept cannot be captured by mathematics.</s>
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| − | ::* Poor explanation of falsifiability.
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| − |
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| − | 3) If a theory can never be proven but it CAN be disproven by at least one repeatable scientific
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| − | experiment the theory will be considered to be false.
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| − | <s>Example: YEC can be disproven through examining DNA which tells the biological history of
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| − | humanity such as the [[Black Death]] in the 14th century and a near extinction of humanity
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| − | around 70.000 B.C. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/166869.stm]Humans came close to extinction, BBC World News</ref>. </s>
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| − | ::* The reference doesn't support the claim that ''examining DNA'' shows that humans came close to extinction.
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| − | ::* The argument in the referenced article is speculation.
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| − | ::* No evidence is offered that ''examinig DNA'' shows evidence of the "Black Death", and even if it did, this does not falsify Young-Earth creation.
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| − | Alternatively (this is an example of how the scientific method works):
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| − |
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| − | - From recent impacts (Siberia, 1908) and space probes we know meteorites and asteroids often
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| − | have a chemical composition which is rare on Earth.
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| − | - A large crater has been found on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
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| − | - The Rocky underground near the crater contains significant amounts of chemical compounds common
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| − | in meteorites, but rare on Earth, especially in such concentrations.
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| − | - The Rocky underground near the crater shows signs of a tremendous energy release: natural
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| − | glass, etc...
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| − | - We can calculate the energy that would be required to create a crater that size.
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| − | - An impact of this scale has been found to be many times greater than that of a nuclear
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| − | explosion.
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| − | <s>- We know an event like this would cause a mass extinction of which nature would need many
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| − | thousands of years to recover.</s>
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| − | ::* No, we don't "know" that. A mass extinction is a real possibility, but not a fact, and we don't "know" that it would take thousands of years for nature to recover.
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| − |
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| − | - We know the ecosystems of Earth are well balanced and prosperous (before the industrial
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| − | revolution anyway).
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| − | - Therefore we know Earth has recovered from the meteorite impact.
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| − | <s>- Therefore we know the impact happened many thousands of years ago.
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| − | - Therefore we know the Earth has to be many thousands of years old.</s>
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| − | ::* These conclusions are based on the earlier faulty argument.
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| − |
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| − | 4) If a theory can be proven by at least one repeatable scientific experiment it will be considered a
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| − | scientific fact.
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| − | Example 1: The Earth is round because that shape is consistent with the laws of gravitation and
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| − | the Earth's curvature can clearly be seen from high altitudes or space.
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| − |
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| − | Example 2: Relativity has been verified in at least two different ways:
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| − | [http://www.answers.com/topic/hafele-keating-experiment| Hafele-Keating experiment and later experiments with more accurate clocks]
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| − |
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| − | [http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit5/gps.html| GPS and relativity]
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |