We constantly say that Einstein’s General and Special theories of relativity have passed many different tests, insenuating their accuracy.
Before Einsten, we tested Isaac Newton’s theories, which also passed with accuracy until Einstein came along.
What’s to say another Einstein/Newton comes along 200-300 years from now to dispute Einstein’s theories?
Is that even possible or are his theories grounded in certainty at this point?
In: 593
We don’t. We can only make that assertion once we have acquired all possible knowledge.
The colloquial issue with science is thinking that it provides proofs which is actually misleading. Science provides us with models which we can test under specific circumstances. When a model passes a test this doesn’t confirm that the model is right. It only confirms that the model wasn’t wrong given the parameters of the test. There can be a new test devised tomorrow that breaks the model. Then we need to come up with a new model that explain the old observations as well as the new ones.
Basically, we don’t know anything with 100% certainty. The best we can say is that so far a given model has not failed given the tests we have performed. For example, we don’t know that it’s impossible for the laws of physics to vary in a specific locality because we haven’t surveyed the entire universe. We can only say that it would appear to be unlikely that the laws are variable because we have no evidence to suggest it. All of our experiments are consistent with the properties of the universe being static.
Latest Answers