>Mike's reply seems good enough. But see also the definition at
www.dictionary.com. Actually, there are several, for example:
>
>"A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena."
>
>but also:
>
>"An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture."
Thanks for the above.
I'd always heard that "theory", as a scientific term rather than a 'folk' expression, was: a viable hypothesis with a preponderance of evidence.
So it is a misnomer to say "it's just a theory" in effort to refute or dismiss the science, agreed? Like we would not say "Gravity: a theory, not a fact". Evolution is a central an unifying theory to the whole body of life sciences. That it "can't be proven" really means that we can't convince are those who do not accept it.