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Originally Posted by ngdawg
Actually, gravity is a theory based on the evidence presented. Granted, there is no evidence thus far that a huge Electrolux sits at the center of the earth with its power perpetually in the 'on' position....
Scientific theories, no matter how compelling the evidence toward them is, must remain 'theories' based on the continuing nature of discovery and the conclusions based on said discovery.
All those two people could conclude factually is that the object did, indeed fall down. Thus is the basis of debate and discussion.
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You're right, an explanation as to the causes and ultimate character of gravity cannot be proven in a mathematical sense. That doesn't make the existence of gravity not a fact and it also doesn't counter anything i said in your quote. Gravity is a fact, whether the explanations for it can be proven or not is immaterial to it's status as a fact.
No one ultimately knows why anything happens when you get right down to it, but that does not imply that it is not a fact that things happen.
What i am understanding is that there are certain folks here who are proposing the idea that because nothing can ultimately be completely verified everything is subjective in a meaningful way. While this may be an interesting thing to think about, it doesn't really amount to anything more than a rigid(and necessarily selective) commitment to skepticism.