Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: Ethan1
In the context of science, "theory" doesn't mean "an unproven explanation", the way we use it in common speech. Gravity is not in any way "theoretical".
That's actually pretty much exactly what "theory" means, caveated by the fact that its an unproven explanation based on the best available proven factual knowledge. Its a little further down the path than a raw hypothesis, but not yet fact or scientific "law."
Straight out of Webster:
the·o·ry
noun
noun: theory; plural noun: theories
a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.
"Darwin's theory of evolution"
synonyms: hypothesis, thesis, conjecture, supposition, speculation, postulation, postulate, proposition, premise, surmise, assumption, presupposition;
And of course gravity isn't a theory any more than light is a theory. But there are plenty of theories about how gravity comes to exist and the mechanism by which it has its effects.
Webster doesn't have it quite right. First you come up with a hypothesis. A hypothesis is a guess and the attempt to explain something. When you test your hypothesis, the gathered facts and data allow you develop a theory based on your hypothesis. Usually, when people say they have a theory, they merely have a hypothesis. Webster says theory and hypothesis are synonymous, but they are not.