“Facts are needed to establish theories, but theories are needed to make sense of facts”. Discuss this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge”
Preview of the Complete Paper
The terms theory and fact are understood very differently, despite being applied in various academic fields. In the field of science where both terms are commonly used, scientific facts are what can be readily observed by everyone. Facts remain true even after hundreds of years. On the other hand, theories try to explain what is observed and are
regularly challenged to further knowledge and research. Theories undergo rigorous tests to invalidate any concerns that are raised by their criticizers. Also, theories concentrate on explaining certain observations, while the observations are the facts. In most cases, theories remain vague truths to most scholars and facts are the real truths. Theories are seen as predictions or as semi-conclusions. Additionally, theories rely heavily on proven facts but,
facts do not rely on theories for them to be relevant. The main claim of the essay proposes that it is true that theories depend on established facts to remain relevant. The counterclaim is that theories are not necessarily important in making sense of the existing facts. The essay will keenly focus on natural science and history as the main fields of study.
Natural Science
Natural sciences focus on the forecast, understanding and the explanation of the natural occurrences. The study of natural science is mainly based on empirical and observational evidence (Harrison, 2009). Natural science is further divided into physical sciences and biological sciences. Physical science has branches like physics, chemistry, earth sciences and astronomy. The various branches of natural science are further divided into different areas of specialization which are also known as fields. Natural sciences are characterized by their emphasis on the use of tested and quantifiable data that is produced through precise scientific methods (Harrison, 2009). In natural science, the establishment of theories demands various scientific facts to support them as reasonable and accurate. Famous theorists in natural sciences like Albert Einstein had to carry out extensive research for years to come up with facts that would back their theories…………………………………………….
