Keith S. Taber
Adrian was a participant in the Understanding Science project. When I spoke to him during the his first year (Y12) of his 'A level' course he told me he had been studying quantum theory, and I asked him about the name 'quantum theory'.
So why do we call it the quantum theory because that is an unusual name isn't it?
I don't know.
No?
No.
What's a theory?
An idea that can be proven? Yes.
A modern understanding of the nature of science does not considered that theories are the kinds of things that can be proved in any simply and straightforward sense. Widely accepted theories are usually supported by a good deal of evidence, and individual components of them may be subject to experimental testing, but a theory as a whole can not be proved as such.
I wanted to find out what scientific theories Adrian was familiar with:
Give me an example of a theory you are familiar with?
I'm familiar with?
Yes. Apart from the quantum theory what other theories do you know?
Pythagoras's theorem.
Okay.
It's completely different, which is basically is a squared equals b squared plus c squared…What other theories, erm… I'm not sure.
So Adrian's only other suggestion of a theory was actually a mathematical theorem (which could be logically deduced within a particular system of axioms, unlike a scientific theory which refers to some aspect of the natural world).
I suggested the theory of evolution that Adrian should have met during his secondary science course earlier in the school: but Adrian claimed he was "not familiar with it" asking if it was "e=mc²"(Is the theory of evolution e=mc²?). Adrian recognised this as a formula, but thought that counted as a theory,
Tell me about e=mc² then because I am teaching that this afternoon so… I am teaching that subject this afternoon, so tell me about that, I need to know about that.
It's a formula. I am not sure that it works out, I am not sure that I understand it, was it Isaac Newton I think sort of come up with the theory. I have never used it and I don't know what you would use it for. …
You think that might be a theory as well?
Yes.
and the theory is an idea that can be proven?
Yes.
Yes. So do you think the various theories that scientists have come up with over the years have been proven?
Yes, but some would have limitations to where they can be sort of – How they can be used if that makes sense.
So they have got a kind of range of applications?
Yes.
