Re: [Phys-l] nature of science

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

But, Robert, "common" is your word.  So the question is, what did you mean 
by it?
			Regards,
				Jack

On Sun, 19 Mar 2006, Robert Cohen wrote:

> I had suggested that it is common for people think that laws are
> theories that have been proven to be true.
>
> To which John D. asked:
> > I would certainly agree that is not true.  Does it even rise
> > to the level of "common" misconception?
>
> I don't know what qualifies as "common" but if I extend this statement
> to be that laws "used to be" theories until they were either proven or
> "accepted" by the scientific community then I'm pretty sure over 50% of
> my students (college; science majors) have this misconception.  (This
> doesn't include those students who think that a law can be proven where
> a theory cannot)
>
> ____________________________________________________
> Robert Cohen, Chair, Department of Physics
> East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301
> 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
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