What is a theory? I thought I knew now I'm confused.?

Question

A classmate said that "Nothing in science becomes a theory until it can not be proven wrong. Scientists make hypotheses then, it becomes a theory. A theory in itself is already a fact. "

IM not sure I agree with this. How can a theory in itself be a fact when it is speculation of a fact? Arent theories, speculations and hypothesis all the same? Or am I lost? Please help me. thanks.

Answer 1

it  a  general  principle  formulated. how to do  things  the right way

Answer 2

In common usage, the word theory is often used to signify  an opinion, a speculation, or a hypothesis. In this usage, a theory is not necessarily based on facts, in other words, it is not required to be consistent with true descriptions of reality. True descriptions of reality are more reflectively understood as statements which would be true independently of what people think about them.

Scientific Therories:

Some scientific explanations are so well established that no new evidence is likely to change them. The explanation becomes a scientific theory. In everyday language a theory means a hunch or speculation.

Not so in science. In science, the word theory refers to a comprehensive explanation of an important feature of nature that is supported by many facts gathered over time. Theories also allow scientists to make predictions about as yet unobserved phenomena.

Answer 3

For formal theories as studied in mathematical logic, see Theory (mathematical logic). For other uses, see Theory (disambiguation).

The word theory has many distinct meanings in different fields of knowledge, depending on their methodologies and the context of discussion.

In science a theory is a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise verified through empirical observation. For the scientist, "theory" is not in any way an antonym of "fact". For example, it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and the theories commonly used to describe and explain this behavior are Newton's theory of universal gravitation (see also gravitation), and the general theory of relativity.

In common usage, the word theory is often used to signify a conjecture, an opinion, a speculation, or a hypothesis. In this usage, a theory is not necessarily based on facts; in other words, it is not required to be consistent with true descriptions of reality. True descriptions of reality are more reflectively understood as statements which would be true independently of what people think about them.

According to the United States National Academy of Sciences,

Some scientific explanations are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them. The explanation becomes a scientific theory. In everyday language a theory means a hunch or speculation. Not so in science. In science, the word theory refers to a comprehensive explanation of an important feature of nature that is supported by many facts gathered over time. Theories also allow scientists to make predictions about as yet unobserved phenomena

Answer 4

I think he is thinking about natural laws. Natural Laws dictate the things that happen around us. and they are fact, we dont need to know y they're fact, but they are. A theory is something that trys to explain a law that is supported by scientific information.  

Answer 5

No. A theory is basically something that hasn't been proven wrong, but hasn't been proven right yet. Its evidence also consists of proven facts. Make sense?

Hypothesis are kind of the same, but not really. The best way to sum them up as are mini theories. They draw upon past observation and an educated guess.

Speculations are just thoughts with no factual evidence, nor any disproof.

Answer 6

A theory is an idea or set of ideas which have yet to be proved true. It doesn't mean that it is wrong or untrue. It is simply the best model available at that time. If the theory works and gives good results then it will be used until a better theory comes along or until it is shown to be untrue. A law or rule is a theory which has been proved.