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Gutwrench

Suspended
Original poster
Jan 2, 2011
4,603
10,530
I can't seem to create a poll, but was interested in your thought.

1. Science, no further comment.

2. Philosophy, no further comment.

3. Probably science, immature theory but on the right track to yield scientific benefits.

4. Not science, waste of time.

5. Other
 

APlotdevice

macrumors 68040
Sep 3, 2011
3,145
3,861
It is exactly what it's name suggests: a theory. That is to say a scientific theory, which itself is defined as "a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment."
 

Gutwrench

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Original poster
Jan 2, 2011
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10,530
Polls are added after you create the thread. Now just edit the post and the poll options will be available to you.

Thank you. I think I deselected the poll option when creating the thread so it doesn't look available to me now. I appreciate the tip and will remember it.
 

angelneo

macrumors 68000
Jun 13, 2004
1,541
0
afk
I'm no scientist, but hasn't it evolved to M-theory? Correct me if I'm wrong

It's theoretical physics, with our current technology, it can't be proven in the strictest sense, but we can verify it by observing the results the theory implies. That being say anything in science can still be proven wrong if solid evidence is there, nothing is really set in stone.
 

SandboxGeneral

Moderator emeritus
Sep 8, 2010
26,482
10,051
Detroit
Thank you. I think I deselected the poll option when creating the thread so it doesn't look available to me now. I appreciate the tip and will remember it.

You can add it right now if you like. Press the edit button on your first post and scroll down to the poll section and add it.
 

Gutwrench

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Jan 2, 2011
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It is exactly what it's name suggests: a theory. That is to say a scientific theory, which itself is defined as "a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment."

Not that I really think it's philosophy but how has it ever been tested and ever repeatedly confirmed through observation?
 

Gutwrench

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Original poster
Jan 2, 2011
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I'm no scientist, but hasn't it evolved to M-theory? Correct me if I'm wrong

It's theoretical physics, with our current technology, it can't be proven in the strictest sense, but we can verify it by observing the results the theory implies. That being say anything in science can still be proven wrong if solid evidence is there, nothing is really set in stone.

I'm guessing you are correct.
 

Huntn

macrumors Core
May 5, 2008
23,396
26,521
The Misty Mountains
I can't seem to create a poll, but was interested in your thought.

1. Science, no further comment.

2. Philosophy, no further comment.

3. Probably science, immature theory but on the right track to yield scientific benefits.

4. Not science, waste of time.

5. Other

Personally I believe it is the OPs responsibility to express some kind of an opinion or leaning when starting a thread like this. So what is it? :)
 

Gutwrench

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Original poster
Jan 2, 2011
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I agree and sorry I haven't done so. I'm still coming to grips with it all. I'm far from any expert, but at this stage tend to agree with angelneo---I think it's a valid theory which is adding or at least helping to add to our knowledge.

I posed the question because science requires testable and observable experiments and with our current knowledge we are unable to do that at the quantum level....particularly when dealing with the idea of strings or multidimensions. Exciting stuff though. From Newton to Einstein and Maxwell to this.
 

eric/

Guest
Sep 19, 2011
1,681
20
Ohio, United States
I'd say its a mixture. It's science for obvious reasons, but I think it's philosophy because its simply a scientific way of describing life and the pursuit of that knowledge.
 

monokakata

macrumors 68020
May 8, 2008
2,035
582
Ithaca, NY
When I was in graduate school, one of my professors liked to talk about "dubious dichotomies."

"Science" versus "Philosophy" I think is one of those.

But for an interesting discussion of how many physicists looked at quantum theory as either physics or philosophy, see this book:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Hippies-S...sr=1-1&keywords=how+the+hippies+saved+physics

It might sound like a woo-woo book, but the author is a historian of science, and he's writing about real people.
 
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