The pecking order is Theories> laws> facts. Facts are the lowest. Laws
are regularities. Theories are explanations. For example: I let go of
a ball at a certain time and place and it dropped (fact). An object
falls according to a certain mathematical relationship between distance
and time (law). The law is explained by the theory of gravity. A
theory is the crowning achievement of science; and every theory
generally contains at least one concept not observed in the measurement
(e.g., gravity).
This position is described in (ahem) my book, Research Methods (all
editions), Brooks/Cole. I see that the reference I use for this section
is:
Campbell, N. (1953). What is science? Dover.
This book was originally published in 1921, but is hard to improve on
for this purpose.
Don McBurney
University of Pittsburgh
Tipsters:
In my ethics class I utilize the cognitive and moral development
theories
of Piaget and Kohlberg. Today, a student expressed skepicism about these
on
the ground that they are "only" theories. At this point I expected to
get
the theory vs fact argument a'la the evolution-creation debate. He
surprised me when he instead stated it needed to have the status of a
law,
like the "law of gravity" or the "law of thermodynamics" for him to
accept
them. (I guess I am giving him too much credit by calling him a
skeptic!)
I understand the probalistic nature of the "scientific fact" vs theory
distinction, but I am not sure where the idea of a "scientic law" fits
on
the probalistic scale. Do fact and law express the same degree of
probability in science? Do they differ only in degree of generality
(i.e.,
fact is specific, law is general)?
Can anyone clarify for me the relative positions of facts, laws, and
theories in scientic knowledge?
Thanks'
Keith
"It's impossible that everything
that is possible is happening"
- Richard Feynman
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Professor Keith A. Maxwell |
Legal and Ethical Studies | Voice: 253 756 3703
School of Business | Fax: 253 756 3500
University of Puget Sound | Internet: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tacoma, WA 98416 |
