The Language of Science: Hypothesis, Theory, Law, and Theorem Explained
Language serves as a medium for communicating ideas, creating a foundational framework that shapes how we conceive, discuss, and advance our understanding of the universe. But it’s a slippery thing. The human experience is messy and it shifts by the minute. Just when you think you’ve got the gist of new slang, an entire generation of younger people walks up and obliterates familiar spelling, challenges grammatical laws, and then makes up a slew of new words specific to experience of the world.
It can be hard to keep up, but language is infinitely malleable and reflective. We’re forever trying to understand and express our thoughts, histories, and pasts, creating little narratives for our pattern-loving brains. In this way, we are all crafters of the lexicon.
How, then, to communicate about laws of the universe and parts of the world that don’t change alongside our perceptions? We’ve tried, time and again, to set down a series of terms for the building blocks of scientific discovery and knowledge - what we know and what we don’t, what we would like to know and what we’re only guessing.
At the heart of this linguistic framework are terms such as "hypothesis," "theory," "law," and "theorem." These terms are not interchangeable; they represent different stages of understanding and evidence within scientific inquiry.
Terminology in Focus
A hypothesis is an educated guess—an initial, testable prediction based on prior knowledge and observation. For instance, a scientist might hypothesize that plants grow faster in direct sunlight than in the shade. The scientist has only an idea about how their prior knowledge applies in this case, so the hypothesis serves as a starting point for experimentation and observation. Scientific hypotheses must also be made in good faith - using knowledge that has already been previously verified.
There's a common understanding that theories are mere speculations, but in science, a theory is a comprehensive explanation of an aspect of the natural world that has been validated through observation and experimentation. The theory of evolution by natural selection is a well-substantiated explanation for the diversity of life on Earth, supported by a vast body of evidence from various branches of science, including genetics, paleontology, and ecology.
While you might hear someone claim they have a theory about a popular television show or movie, chances are good that they are actually working from a hypothesis garnered through diligent reddit research and multiple viewings. It’s just not the same level of methodology and rigor, though the discourse may be just as heated.
There’s a common misconception that theories, if accepted by enough people, will eventually become scientific laws. This is patently false. Laws describe observable phenomena and their relationships, and are often expressed mathematically. For example, Newton's laws of motion offer mathematical descriptions of how objects move in space and time. Unlike theories, laws do not attempt to explain why these phenomena occur but rather how they happen consistently under certain conditions.
And then there are theorems, which are statements proven based on previously established statements, such as other theorems (generally within mathematics). The truth of the theorem is established through formal deduction. A common example is Pythagoras' theorem. To refresh your school-age memory, his is the one that defines the relationship between the lengths of the sides of a right triangle. While laws and theorems both address “truths,” the fundamental difference is that a law is experimental and a theorem is a proposition that seems observably true in most cases, but can’t be proved to be true in all cases.
Understanding these distinctions is crucial for scientists and anyone engaging with scientific information. Within the scientific community, these distinctions enable more precise communication, helps prevent misunderstandings, and fosters a deeper appreciation of the scientific method's rigor and the provisional nature of scientific knowledge. Precision in language, therefore, is not merely academic but a vital tool in the collective endeavor of science to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
Misconceptions and Public Perception
A significant challenge in the communication and understanding of science lies in the misconceptions surrounding key scientific terms. Probably there's no better example than the "just a theory" myth. This prevalent misunderstanding indicates that a theory in science is merely a guess or an unsubstantiated hypothesis. In reality, a scientific theory is a robust, well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that has been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation. For instance, despite being colloquially dismissed by some as "just a theory," the theory of evolution is one of the most rigorously tested and supported explanations in the scientific community.
The confusion does not end with theories. There is also some misunderstanding of the distinction between laws and theories. For example, gravity. Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation mathematically describes the force of gravitational attraction between masses. In contrast, Einstein's Theory of Relativity goes into the principles underlying gravity and its effects on space and time. This distinction is crucial for understanding how scientific knowledge is structured and communicated.
However, do these distinctions matter outside of the sciences, in everyday, colloquial language? Probably not. The evolution of language is difficult to predict, but we do know it changes quickly and often to keep up with new technology, cultural forces, and historical events. We’ve probably all witnessed semantic fights that were more about ego than the actual meaning and usage of a word (literally, anyone?), and usually, context provides us all we need to know about whether someone is really providing a hypothesis or a theory.
The truth is that we have to know the difference between colloquial and scientific usage to be able to navigate both worlds effectively. Precisely understanding key scientific terms is not just an academic exercise but a foundational element influencing practical applications, education, and philosophical perspectives on science. By demystifying and engaging with the scientific meaning of these terms, we enhance our collective ability to engage with, understand, and apply scientific knowledge to whatever context we choose. Even if that context is outside the halls of a research institute.
