In several sections, there is reference to laws of science and theories.
What is a law of science?
Wikipedia:
The laws of science or scientific laws are statements that describe or predict a range of phenomena behave as they appear to in nature. The term “law” has diverse usage in many cases: approximate, accurate, broad or narrow theories, in all natural scientific disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, astronomy, etc.). An analogous term for a scientific law is a principle.
Scientific laws:
- Summarize a large collection of facts determined by experimentinto a single statement,
- can usually be formulated mathematically as one or several statements or equation, or at least stated in a single sentence, so that it can be used to predict the outcome of an experiment, given the initial, boundary, and other physical conditions of the processes which take place,
- are strongly supported by empirical evidence– they are scientific knowledge that experiments have repeatedly verified (and never falsified). Their accuracy does not change when new theories are worked out, but rather the scope of application, since the equation (if any) representing the law does not change. As with other scientific knowledge, they do not have absolute certainty (as mathematical theorems or identities do), and it is always possible for a law to be overturned by future observations.
- are often quoted as a fundamental controlling influence rather than a description of observed facts, g., “the laws of motion require that…”
Laws differ from hypotheses and postulates, which are proposed during the scientific process before and during validation by experiment and observation. These are not laws since they have not been verified to the same degree and may not be sufficiently general, although they may lead to the formulation of laws. A law is a more solidified and formal statement, distilled from the repeated experiment.
Although the nature of a scientific law is a question in philosophy and although scientific laws describe nature mathematically, scientific laws are practical conclusions reached by the scientific method; they are intended to be neither laden with ontological commitments nor statements of logical absolutes.
According to the unity of science thesis, all scientific laws follow fundamentally from physics. Laws which occur in other sciences ultimately follow from physical laws. Often, from mathematically fundamental viewpoints, universal constants emerge from scientific laws.
The laws of science strive to avoid making strong assertions about the nature of reality, which can be difficult since we depend on observation to establish what we consider ‘facts.’ Observing is a complex process, as we will discuss later. We compare the observations of many individuals, and when they are consistent, we deem them objective. However, it is important to recognize that the observation process involves numerous hidden assumptions. True objectivity is unattainable; instead, we operate with a commonly shared subjectivity.
The laws of science are often more effective when expressed in mathematical form, such as equations. These equations can predict the expected outcomes of real-world experiments. An experiment is a systematic procedure conducted to confirm, disprove, or validate a hypothesis. Experiments help us understand cause and effect by illustrating what happens when a specific factor is changed.
Carrying out an experiment involves observing and recording outcomes over a period of time. In this context, time is considered an independent variable that relates to a specific set of natural constants.
This process is connected to the epistemological assumptions and initial perspectives that guide how we align our observations and declare them to be objective.
Some scientific laws appear so ‘obvious’ that we often overlook the underlying assumptions and starting points behind the equations. This oversight can lead us to accept these laws as absolute truths without question, potentially hindering our ability to explore and challenge them further.
We may need to reconsider the frameworks of scientific laws at times. In the fields of science and epistemology (the study of knowledge), a paradigm refers to a specific set of concepts or thought patterns. This includes theories, research methods, postulates, and standards that define what is considered a legitimate contribution to a field of knowledge.
In the field of particle physics, it is essential to recognize the significance of theories such as general relativity and quantum physics, as well as macroscopic scientific laws. These theories can sometimes produce conflicting results in cross-disciplinary thought experiments. Therefore, it is important to remain open to reevaluating the paradigms, assumptions, and foundational principles associated with these theories.