Proper Scientific Refutations

[Steven Krivit]

V -

I was havin' a chat will fellow CF author the other day about proper 
scientific refutations.  He brought to my attention that a valid refutation 
of a claim is one which identifies a specific "error of procedure" in an 
experiment, such as a specific error pertaining to calorimetry, 
interpretation etc.

The distinction we discussed focused on the point, subtle perhaps, of 
distinguishing specific "errors of procedure" from speculative or 
hypothetical errors.

The discussion arose from my review of the numerous speculative refutations 
of F&P given at the APS Baltimore meeting on May 1, 1989.

I'd like to explore this topic further here, if anybody would care to 
engage in such.

-S