"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...

I am saying that anyone who can prove a scientific theory AT ALL in any
terms whatsoever is someone who has advanced the whole cause of
civilisation and reason way beyond the 40th century.

Scientific theories are not factual, never were and never will be. They
are models of how things appear to happen. The best you can say is that
they are not demonstrably wrong. Newton was demonstrably wrong, but iot
took 300 odd years to do it. Einstein *so far* is not.

If you want certainly, become a catholic. The pope is infallible. Science
is not. Religion claims the one Truth. Science does not.

TNP: although we disagree on some issues, I think this is the best statement
about how science works I've read in ages.

Absolutely spot on: science is not involved with "truth". It produces
"models" which explain the observed phenomena, and let us make useful
predictions.

All of the models have limitations, and most will be replaced in due course
by better ones. Indeed, we know (in advance) that there are problems with
two of our most powerful models, General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics,
because where they overlap they disagree. One day we'll find something
better. Until then, they are both extremely useful for day-to-day science
and technology.

I wish Norman would take this on board.

STeveT