Nature of Science Even in Term Paper

Smith notes that it may be impossible to unequivocally prove something with one hundred percent accuracy; rather, scientists seek probability.

The term theory is often misconstrued: Smith states that "theories always explain facts." Moreover, there is no clear demarcation between a theory and a hypothesis. Theories are basically broad hypotheses. Laws, on the other hand, are more restrictive and are often derived from theories. The practice of science entails experimentation as well as presentation to the scientific community. When the research is presented to other scientists, it is usually done so through peer-reviewed journals. Often other scientists will critique and critically evaluate the scientific experiment and attempt to replicate it. When the experiment has been replicated the hypothesis may become part of the canon of established science and from there, common knowledge.

Because science can only deal with what is observable and measurable, it can not apply to philosophy, aesthetics, ethics, or religion, which are all valid areas of inquiry but nevertheless, do not fall within the domain of science.Science cannot be used to settle ethical debates such as those over abortion. In fact, what passes as science is often merely pseudoscience. Pseudoscience, or "false science," can be easily recognized. Claims of immutability, attacks on the scientific establishment, and a reliance on unobservable forces, personal testimony, or appeals to authority are all ways pseudoscience can be distinguished from genuine science. The four most common manifestations of pseudoscience include quack remedies, nutritional or diet fads, astrology, and creationism. Contrary to genuine science, pseudoscience does not refer to or rely on scientifically tested theses, or the thesis may have already been proven false.

Reference

Smith, David. "The Nature of Science.".....