Science and Its Limits and the Relationship Between the Theoretical and the Mechanical

[Jim]

@Jim

I assume you’re referring to the last post I made. After what I’ve read in the book I can see there are some things I need to change. I could just make some corrections to make things more clear, or do a whole new post. What would you suggest?

@swamidass

Try editing the first post in the thread. A good OP frames and scopes the conversation with interesting information and a good invitation. Once you have a reasonable OP, we can move these posts into a different thread.

Sorry I wasn’t clear. In my comment above I was referring to the last thread I opened.

@swamidass

Perhaps try and focus in on a question that will provoke interesting conversation. Perhaps look up some additional information, such as definitions of “theory” used by others, to compare and contrast. With the rig information and scope, there can be a good conversation.

Actually this is the first time I’ve discovered a definition of theory that was not overly ambiguous, nor overly complicated. And believe me I’ve looked many times. Do you have any suggestions of where I might find more of the type of definition I’m looking for? Also I think it depends on the field of study. This seems to be more of a definition that would be conducive to physics which is in line with the issues I’m raising. So sticking with a definition tailored to physics is probably what is best for my purposes.

@swamidass

Yeah. We just asked for a clearer OP. He should certainly remove “mechanical”

How about “formal calculas” instead of mechanical? I could also add concepts to theoretical to make it more specific?