Theos-Talk Archives (May 2004 Message tt00136)

In a message dated 05/16/04 2:14:35 PM, bartl@sprynet.com writes:

>netemara888 wrote:
>> as a trained scientist and a student of science I was taught that 
>> the onus is on the other scientist to disprove a theory presented, 
>> not to prove it. The onus is on the theoretician to postulate and 
>> set forth, again not to prove it is true. 
>
> OK. Suppose I had a theory that you are an alien from outer space, sent
>to Earth to destroy it. Can you disprove it?

Unfair question. That's not a scientific theory, but just an opinion. Any 
theory related to any discipline of science that cannot be falsified and make 
at least one prediction, is not a proper scientific theory. A theoretician 
does not have to "prove" his/her theory if it meets those qualifications. He/she 
just just has to logically state it, and leave its falsification or disproof 
to others. Until so disproved, either mathematically or by direct evidence or 
observation, it remains a valid scientific theory.