How can we believe science is always correct when there have been instances of scientific 'facts' being proved wrong with the passing of time?

Answer 1

Answer

At no time, in human history has science ever got things exactly right. Scientists constantly question what is accepted and what is suspect. Observation and experimentation using the scientific method is the only way to reach true knowledge in science.

Answer

Scientific theories are models for describing the world. Successful models will agree with all the evidence currently known, and so be taken as true. However, inevitably, as more evidence comes to light these models must be amended. An example of this are Newton's Laws of Motion. For many years they described the motion of objects perfectly. However, later on Einstein realized that the theory did not work for extreme scenarios where objects were traveling close to the speed of light. Thus he made changes, creating his theory of special relativity. Even today, Newton's Laws of Motion are used regularly, because they work successfully in the vast majority of practical cases. The theory is not correct in all circumstances - but it was the best theory at the time.

So in conclusion, current theories are not perfect, but they're the best we have, and they do seem to fit virtually all the evidence currently known.

Answer 2

Science is a self-correcting process that evolves based on new evidence and understanding. While past theories and facts may be revised or discarded as knowledge advances, the scientific method's rigor and openness to change make it a robust and reliable framework for understanding the natural world. It's important to view scientific knowledge as the best explanation based on current evidence rather than absolute truth.