Re: [Phys-l] nature of science

[Jack Uretsky <jlu@hep.anl.gov>]

I am a physicist.  I know what my colleagues and I do
in the practice of physics.  I read about the activities
 of some biologists, chemists and engineers.  I don't
know what "science" is.  I don't know anyone -except a
few grade school teachers - who ascribe any 
particular meanings to the terms "hypothesis", "theory",
"law".  I consider these terms to be red herrings -stale
red herrings at that.
	If you want to know what some scientists
actually do go to the home page of a center of science,
such as Fermilab, CERN, or Argonne National Lab, and
look at the descriptions of some of the experiments that
have been approved for the facilities at these centers.
Or go to the Internet Sites of some major Universities,
click on the Departments that you deem scientific, and
see what you can glean about what goes on in those
departments.  But DO NOT -repeat- DO NOT look for a
quote by someone with a PhD after his name pontificating
about what other people who might be called scientists
actually do.  Otherwise you will be deceiving and
misleading your students.
			Regards,
				Jack


On Fri, 17 Mar 2006, Manoranjitham Joshua wrote:

> I have some questions concerning the nature of science.
>
> 1. What is the basic difference between a theory and a law in science?
>
> 2. When Newton first developed it, would we classify Newton?s Law of
> Gravitation as a theory or a law?
>
> 3. What is the role of hypothesis in
>
> a) introductory physics courses
>
> b) physics major?s courses
>
> c) graduate physics courses
>
> Mangala Joshua
> Physical Science Department
> Mesa Community College
>
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

--
"Trust me.  I have a lot of experience at this."
		General Custer's unremembered message to his men,
		just before leading them into the Little Big Horn Valley