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Originally Posted by R.A.F.
It's also important to know what a "theory" actually is.
If I may quote the late Dr. Asimov (from his essay "The Armies of the Night")...
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A Theory, when advanced by a competent scientist, is an elaborate and detailed attempt to account for a series of otherwise disconnected and appearently unrelated observations. It is based on numerous observations, close reasoning, and, where appropriate, careful mathematical deduction. To be successful, a theory must be confirmed by other scientists through numerous additional observations and tests and, where this is possible, must offer predictions that can be tested and confirmed. The Theory can be, and is, refined and improved as more and better observations are made.
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In that same essay, he goes on to say...
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What is a Theory not? It is not "a guess".
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Dr. Asimov is wrong. A theory is a guess, and should always be treated as such: A testable alternative that provides a better answer than a prevailing theory at any level of detail should be explored.
Even more important, if there are facts in evidence that cannot be justified within the prevailing theory, it should be censored. Evoking unsubstantiated Dark Matter and Dark Energy to fill evidentiary gaps in the Einstein-deSitter universe has zero scientific merit.
Dr. Asimov’s definition discourages the challenge of existing theories, creates an unlevel playing field, and perpetuates the status quo. Bad astronomy.