It's called a theory.
Theory A scientific theory is a well tested explanation for a wide range of observations or experimental results
A testable idea or explanation that leads to scientific investigation is called a hypothesis. It is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon that can be tested through experimentation and observation. A hypothesis must be specific and measurable, allowing scientists to gather data to support or refute it. This process is fundamental to the scientific method, enabling researchers to draw conclusions based on empirical evidence.
Not much:scientific hypothesis, a reasonable guess about how things work but without confirming experimental evidencescientific theory, a reasonable guess about how things work that has significant confirming experimental evidence and has been replicated in multiple experiments by different researchersscientific fact, a reasonable guess about how things work that has significant confirming experimental evidence and has been replicated in many experiments by different researchersNote: nothing in science can be "proven true", only confirmed within a certain probability of being true. No matter how many experiments have been done that confirm an idea, there is always a possibility that a future experiment will reveal a previously unknown defect in that idea. Ideas in science are usually declared "facts" when the evidence has become so overwhelming that few (if any) scientists continue to debate the idea.
with a good idea of the expected experimental results.
Empiricism
Observation
Democritus did not have experimental evidence to support his idea of the atom. Instead, his idea was based on philosophical reasoning and speculation.
Ancient Greek philosophers such as Democritus and Leucippus did not have experimental evidence to support their theory of the atom. Their idea of the atom was purely philosophical and lacked experimental verification until much later.
experimental evidence that supports the new idea
The earliest idea about atoms, proposed by ancient Greek philosophers like Democritus, was based on philosophical reasoning and did not involve empirical evidence. In contrast, later scientists like Dalton and Thomson developed atomic theory based on experimental observations, such as the laws of chemical reactions and the discovery of subatomic particles. This shift from abstract philosophy to empirical observation marked a significant change in the approach to understanding atoms.
Faith is the strongest kind of belief in that it implies absolute certainty about the truth concerning a person or idea. But it is unlike true knowledge in that it is not based on empirical evidence, personal experience, or observation.
A scientific idea is a concept or hypothesis that seeks to explain natural phenomena based on empirical evidence and observation. It is often formulated through the scientific method, which involves observation, experimentation, and validation. Scientific ideas must be testable and falsifiable, allowing them to be supported or refuted through further investigation. Ultimately, they contribute to the broader understanding of the natural world.
The Greek philosopher Democritus first put forward the idea of atoms as an intellectual theory.
Francis Bacon, Galileo, and Isaac Newton promoted the idea that knowledge should be based on empirical evidence and observation. They emphasized the scientific method, advocating for experimentation and systematic investigation to understand the natural world. This approach marked a shift from reliance on philosophical speculation and dogma to a more rigorous and evidence-based framework for acquiring knowledge. Their contributions laid the foundation for modern science.
Scientists accept an idea as true when it is supported by a substantial body of evidence gathered through rigorous experimentation and observation. This evidence must withstand critical scrutiny, replicability, and peer review, ensuring that the findings are reliable and not based on chance or bias. Additionally, the idea should be able to make accurate predictions and be consistent with existing scientific knowledge. Ultimately, scientific acceptance is a dynamic process, subject to change as new evidence emerges.
Fossil records, anatomical similarities among different species, and the observation of natural selection in action were some of the key pieces of evidence used to support the idea of evolution when it was first proposed.
Francis Bacon, Galileo Galilei, and Isaac Newton promoted the idea that knowledge should be based on empirical evidence and observation. They emphasized the importance of the scientific method, which involves systematic experimentation and validation of hypotheses through observable data. This approach marked a shift from reliance on philosophical reasoning and tradition to a more rigorous, evidence-based understanding of the natural world. Their contributions laid the foundation for modern science and the pursuit of knowledge through experimentation.