Glossary
Fellowship:
A friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.
Hypothesis, General:
A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
Hypothesis, Scientific:
Must be based on observations and make a testable and reproducible prediction about reality, in a process beginning with an educated guess or thought. If a hypothesis is repeatedly independently demonstrated by experiment to be true, it becomes a scientific theory. In colloquial usage, the words "hypothesis" and "theory" are often used interchangeably, but this is incorrect in the context of science.
Hypothesis, Working:
A provisionally-accepted hypothesis used for the purpose of pursuing further progress in research. Working hypotheses are frequently discarded, and often proposed with knowledge that they are incomplete and thus false, with the intent of moving research in at least somewhat the right direction, especially when scientists are stuck on an issue and brainstorming ideas.
Objectively:
In a way that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
Philosophy:
A systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, knowledge, mind, reason, language, and value. It is a rational and critical inquiry that reflects on its methods and assumptions. Major branches of philosophy are epistemology, ethics, logic, and metaphysics. Within each branch, there are competing schools of philosophy that promote different principles, theories, or methods.
Scientific Method:
An empirical method for acquiring knowledge used to objectively investigate questions and solve problems by making observations, forming a testable hypothesis, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. It is a flexible framework rather than a rigid set of rules, and the process is often cyclical, with conclusions leading to new hypotheses. The ultimate purpose is to build knowledge and understanding through evidence-based testing and experimentation.
Theory, Everyday:
A hunch, guess, or hypothesis about something that has not been proven.
Theory, Philosophical:
(or philosophical position) A view that attempts to explain or account for a particular problem in philosophy.[citation needed] The use of the term "theory" is a statement of colloquial English and not a technical term.[ While any sort of thesis or opinion may be termed a position, in analytic philosophy it is thought best to reserve the word "theory" for systematic, comprehensive attempts to solve problems.
Theory, Scientific:
A comprehensive and well-supported explanation for natural phenomena. Examples include the theory of evolution by natural selection or the theory of relativity.
Examples of scientific theories:
Theory of Evolution:
Explains how life on Earth has changed over time and how modern life descended from ancient forms.
Atomic Theory:
The idea that all matter is composed of atoms.
Cell Theory:
The fundamental principle that all living organisms are made of cells.
Germ Theory of Disease:
The understanding that certain microbes cause certain diseases.
Theory of Relativity:
Einstein's theories that describe the relationship between space, time, and gravity.
Plate Tectonic Theory:
Explains the large-scale motion of Earth's lithosphere.
Big Bang Theory:
Describes the origin and evolution of the universe.