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Why do the masses in general have such a hard time accepting validated, new scientific ideas?
Expanding on that thought why do people generally accept theories as absolute facts when in essence they are only our best guess usually based on observations of natural processes? Furthermore why are these theories taught in schools as absolute factual truth when again it is just an observation?
1 Answer
- jehenLv 74 years ago
First, you misunderstand theory. A theory is not a guess. It is an explanation for observed phenomena. There are theories that are well proven beyond any reasonable doubt. Example: The observed phenomena is the diversity of life with many common elements shared among similar and dissimilar species. The explanation (theory) is that all current life forms evolved from earlier forms, passing on successful random changes (mutations) as new traits. That explanation is proven true beyond all reasonable doubt. The older the theory (explanation) the more likely it has been proven true. So many recent theories in astrophysics and quantum mechanics are not resoundingly proven - but the remain the best explanation for observed phenomena until more information comes to bear. All science teaching teaches that a theory is an explanation, and when that explanation is or is not proven.