Misconceptions of E=MC^2

Heinrik,Please allow me to explain something to you that I think is important for you to know, and that is tangentially related to the difference between equations and formulas. In your opening post and in a post later in the thread, I noticed that you have a mistaken idea of the meaning of the word 'theory', at least as far as its use in science is concerned.Scientists use the word 'theory' to denote a framework of knowledge that explains observed phenomena. For example, we observe that masses attract each other, and as an explanation of this phenomenon we have a theory of gravity. This theory consists of a number of principles that can be expressed in words. However, it is better to write those principles down in formulas, because if we do that we can make calculations about the effects we observe. For instance, we can calculate how long it takes for something to fall to the ground, if we let go of it from a given height. We can also calculate the speed with which it will hit the ground, and the energy it releases on impact.I think that you have a different idea about the meaning of the word 'theory' in this context. In lay circles, there is a persistent erroneous idea that a theory is some kind of upgrade from a hypothesis, and that a theory can in turn be upgraded to the status of 'law'. On this view, a theory is often pronounced to be "just a theory", meaning that it is viewed as being mere speculation, only less so than a hypothesis. Also on this view, when a theory becomes a law, it is viewed as fact.As I have described above, scientists use the word 'theory' differently. But there is another important thing about theories. I mentioned the theory of gravity above. But isn't gravity also a fact? A layman with the erroneous idea of how scientists use the word 'theory' might think that this is a contradiction: how can gravity be a theory and also a fact? If you have read my explanation above, you now know that there is no contradiction. We know that gravity is a fact - you only have to drop something from the roof of a building to see gravity at work - and our theory of gravity explains that fact to the best of our knowledge.I hope this is of some help to you.

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"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.

In Message 108 of this thread, you said: The phrases "a balanced mathematical equation that remains a theory" and "when it is in the form of a theory" made me conclude you have the wrong idea about the scientific meaning of the word 'theory'. In any case, your message 108 betrays some confusion on your part concerning formulas, equations and theories.In the same post you said: Indeed it is. But when someone does point it out to you, you become angry. We try to keep that aspect out of the game here. I have seen it so often, Heinrik, in forums as well as in the flesh. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I was genuinely trying to help you.Do yourself a favour: don't get angry at the drop of a hat. I'm not in the least impressed by it, and it doesn't help at all to advance the discussion, or your understanding of matters. Having said that, I predict more scorn from you, and accusations of condescension. Let me tell you up front: I don't care.Edited by Parasomnium, : No reason given.

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"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.

Maybe it was the phrase "Now this angers me" that made me think you became angry. How foolish of me. Apparently what you write only looks like English, but is in fact something totally different. Another case of something I mistake for English? Care to translate? I did, but if you choose to ignore it, then that's your problem. I have spoken to many lay people who harbour these ideas, and I have read many posts by such people. So it's possible that I'm wrong, but my experience tells me differently. I am certainly not going to indulge you by compiling a list of incidents, it's just not worth my trouble. If you don't believe me, fine. I couldn't care less.

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"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.

So, tell me, what should I have done? Find out where you live, look you up and see if you froth at the mouth? You did not vent it, you said. Should I have checked that no steam was coming out of your ears? Just to verify that what you write here is in fact true? In this forum, the only evidence we have of what people think is what they write. If you write "Now this angers me", in my book that means that you are angry, at least if it's meant to be English what you write. If not, maybe you can supply explanatory footnotes in the future. I have told you my beliefs about "lay circles": I believe that a large portion of the lay public has erroneous ideas about science. This belief stems from my interaction with a lot of them. I have heard or read their words concerning the topic. From these words I infer some conclusions about their ideas. You're not supposing, I hope, that if they express some faulty ideas about science, I should conclude: "Well, they may say things that betray ignorance about science, but they are probably very well versed in matters scientific." I draw different conclusions about them, and they are conclusions every straight thinking, knowledgeable person would draw, given the utterances of these people.You may want to look up the term 'straw man'. It's a term used in logic and reasoning to denote a particular fallacious strategy. It has nothing to do with the straw man in the Wizard of Oz. Perhaps you know all this already, but used your idiosyncratic way of expressing that fact. Presently, I have no way of knowing.

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"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science." - Charles Darwin.