Explain this statement: "No theory is written in stone"?

Question

No, lol i dont go to stevenson high school and im not in honors chem, its just good old regular chem :)

Answer 1

Theories are *not* a best guess.  That's why the common use definition of "theory" bothers me.  There is no guesswork involved.  They are the combination of many different lines of evidence, worked into one cohesive and consistent model of some aspect of reality.  The theory of evolution is the culmination of genetic, morphological, fossil, and observational data.  The theory of gravity likewise comes from a wide range of distinct but related studies.

That said, theories are based on evidence, which can change.  The main strength of science is that it is dynamic.  We still have the theory of evolution, not because we cling to it, but because the evidence still supports it.  It's in that way that "no theory is written in stone."  Since a theory is not a concept in and of itself, but rather based on the evidence, as the evidence changes, so does the theory.

Answer 2

A theory is just someone's conclusion to an educated guess. It hasn't be proven to be a fact. It's just a theory...No one has a final say until it is proven to be a fact. :-)  

Answer 3

hey do u go to Stevenson High School cause im taking honors chem too

Answer 4

All that a theory is, is a best guess. It might be based on education, and observations, maybe even some trial and error experimentation, but in the end, a theory is still just a guess as to how something will operate or function. Or behave or react under a certain set of circumstances and conditions.  The 'written in stone' thing is a biblical reference to the stone tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain, in other words the Ten Commandments. Written in stone meaning unchangeable and undeniable. When one says that something 'isn't written in stone', it simply means the outcome can change or may not be as expected or theorized.  

Answer 5

Theories are subject to change and are not permanent. They can change if, by repeated observation & experimentation, something contradictory to the original theory results.