Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!ut-sally!utah-cs!utah-gr!pwa-b!philabs!aecom!werner From: werner@aecom.YU.EDU (Craig Werner) Newsgroups: sci.research,sci.med,talk.rumors,misc.headlines Subject: Re: A quick restatement for Chris. Message-ID: <1189@aecom.YU.EDU> Date: Mon, 6-Jul-87 22:53:28 EDT Article-I.D.: aecom.1189 Posted: Mon Jul 6 22:53:28 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jul-87 06:35:13 EDT References: <6693@allegra.UUCP> <1664@tekcrl.TEK.COM> <1084@aecom.YU.EDU> <1207@isl1.ri.cmu.edu> Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY Lines: 21 Summary: What is science? Xref: mnetor sci.research:181 sci.med:2574 talk.rumors:901 misc.headlines:874 Just so we deal in no uncertain terms: Here is the best definition of the domain of science that I have ever heard formulated: "Science deals in disprovable assertions. If something can not be, in theory at least, disproven, by experiment and/or observation, then it is not in the domain of science." Correlary: nothing can be proven in science, only supported or suggested. However, every good scientific theory suggests situations which would be impossible if the theory were valid, and hence provides a means to disprove itself. -- Craig "Baby Doc" Werner (future MD/PhD, 3 years down, 4 to go) werner@aecom.YU.EDU -- Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1935-14E Eastchester Rd., Bronx NY 10461, 212-931-2517) "Morphology is part science and part 'Ipse Dixit.' "