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Re: What are "principles" in science?



Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle and the Principle of Least Action
are the two physics uses of the term that come to my mind. These are
specific and basic 'assumptions' or postulates in my book.

I have come to refer to Kirchoff's Rules instead of Laws, reserving
the use of Law to stand for a basic 'truth' that cannot be derived
from a MORE basic truth. i.e. Conservation of Energy and of Charge
can be used to 'derive' the Loop and Junction 'rules'. 'Rules' are
handy results of more basic theory. I'm using Theory here to
represent the 'accepted' explanation rather than the 'proposed but
not yet accepted' explanation that some would prefer. Theory of
Evolution and Theory of Relativity are relevant here. These
could/should be called 'Laws' since they are generally accepted as
true and not derivable from more basic truths.

We scientists aren't very consistent with our use of these
mathematical/philosophical terms nor should we demand rigid
consistency. But just a TAD of consistency would improve our impact
on those others who face scientific terms as outsiders.



At 10:11 AM -0400 on 6/7/04, Robert Cohen wrote concerning "Re: What
are "principles" in science?":
> "A PRINCIPLE TO REMEMBER. In a chemical
change the atoms in substances are rearranged
to make one or more new substances. The result
is a change in composition."

Would it be appropriate to replace the word
PRINCIPLE by the word LAW?

Although there is no hard and fast rule concerning the use of the terms,
to me it sounds like an explanation and, as such, has more in common
with a theory than a law.

____________________________________________________
Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301


--
I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in
which they can learn.
- Albert Einstein