Task 1 - D1 - Resistance to new scientific theories

1. Resistance To New Scientific Theories
By Ofori Boateng

2. Acceptance Of Theories
Many times when it comes to new scientific theories there are resistances.
This happens because many times there are uncertainties, and normally for a new theory to become
accepted by scientists through the world it has to be proven and approved. This can take many years
before to happen.
The acceptance of a theory takes time to be approved also because of the various methods of
experimentation that a scientist could use
One other reason why there is resistance on new theories is because scientists rely on each other to
test each others theories, methods and even results. (1)

3. Theories Are Right If Sustained By Facts
Scientific theories remain just theories until they are sustained by facts which therefore bring evidence.
If there is not a strong evidence to prove the theory, resistance against it will always be there, this is
why many times there are contrasts between beliefs, religion and science.
This is also why scientific facts can only be facts when they are verified by experiments that can be
repeatable in time.

4. Contrast Between Science And Religion
The contrast between science and religion is one of the
reasons why there is resistance to new scientific
theories, some concepts like evolution and the big bang
have been the complaint of religious groups.
Science and religion overlap on many topics. Each then
generally puts forth conflicting beliefs on the same topic,
due to different point of view from the two categories.
Therefore the results of these conflicts can often strain
the culture, cause suffering or in some cases even cause
life loss.
Science and religion are in contrast because science
wants:
● Evidences
● Facts
● Proofs
While religion does not need evidence but relies on:
● Faith
● beliefs
This is the main reason why science and religion overlap
each other in many topics some topics.
Consequently this lead to the non-acceptance of new
discoveries, such as scientific theories.
If there is not a same point of view from both, science
and religion, resistance will always be there.
Therefore it will be hard for a new scientific theory to be
accepted by everyone, unless everyone agrees on it.
Sometimes accepting a specific scientific theory also
means having a different behaviour to fit in a new
scientific model, and this is not something that everyone
is willing to do. (2)

5. Other Reasons Why There Is Resistance On New Scientific Theories
● Sometimes there are resistance to new theories because, they challenge old theories. Many
scientists base their studies and researches on already existing theories that have not been
accepted trying to elaborate them and improve them to make new ones.
● Many scientists also believe that every single new theory has to go through resistance before to
be accepted. A theory has to go through tests and be re-evaluated every time new information
comes in.
● Scientists also believe that the harder resistance for a specific new theory is, the more we can
be sure in its validity. So therefore resistance is good and eventually will give a more accurate
idea of the topic. (3)

6. References:
1. http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/why-there-sometimes-resistance-new-scientific-392880
[Accessed on 17th October 2014]
2. http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/science_religion [Accessed on 17th October 2014]
3. http://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-resistance-to-new-scientific-theories [Accessed on 17th
October 2014]
Image 1: http://www.nasa.gov/missions/shuttle/experiment.html [Accessed on 17th October 2014]
Image 2: http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/science_religion [Accessed on 17th October 2014]