Swingman wrote:

After about a hundred years of reliance on a named "theory" without
any contradiction or paradox, a theory might be elevated to a "Law",
as in "The Newtonian Laws of Motion," or the "Law of Butter-Side
Down." In fact, "Theory" and "Law" are often interchangable.

Not exactly ... there is none of the hierarchy, of a "theory being
elevated to a law" in all scientific disciplines that you imply with
the above statement:

http://science.kennesaw.edu/~rmatson/3380theory.html

The way I learned it corresponds to the following:

"Words have precise meanings in science. For example, 'theory', 'law', and
'hypothesis' don't all mean the same thing. Outside of science, you might
say something is 'just a theory', meaning it's supposition that may or may
not be true. In science, a theory is an explanation that generally is
accepted to be true. Here's a closer look at these important, commonly
misused terms."

Specifically:

* A hypothesis is an educated guess, based on observation. Usually, a
hypothesis can be supported or refuted through experimentation or more
observation. A hypothesis can be disproven, but not proven to be true.

* A scientific theory summarizes a hypothesis or group of hypotheses that
have been supported with repeated testing. A theory is valid as long as
there is no evidence to dispute it. Therefore, theories can be disproven.
Basically, if evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, then the
hypothesis can become accepted as a good explanation of a phenomenon. One
definition of a theory is to say it's an accepted hypothesis.

* A law generalizes a body of observations. At the time it is made, no
exceptions have been found to a law. Scientific laws explain things, but
they do not describe them. One way to tell a law and a theory apart is to
ask if the description gives you a means to explain 'why'. (E.g., Newton's
Law of Gravitation)

See:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemis.../lawtheory.htm

In other words, "theory" is as close to facts as one can currently get. You
can take it to the bank. You can start a religion based on it. You can let
your sister marry it.

In science, the word "theory" does NOT mean a guess, speculation, or even
mere possibility.

That's my theory.