（译注：插图英文，上： “科学理论被证明！ ”；下： “宇宙确实围绕我转！ ”）

Many people who are otherwise well informed about science misunderstand what a scientific theory is. I shall quote from a letter to the editor in my newspaper by Linda Lee Kennedy, the science department chairman of a local high school. "There is a process that provides theories. They are first proposed as hypotheses, then supporting proof (evidence) elevates them to the status of a theory." She claimed that some theories have been "proven over and over." Her comments sound right to the ordinary person, but actually they are partly right and partly wrong.

以不同的方式对科学获得很多了解的许多人，对 “什么科学理论 ”有误解。 I shall quote from a letter to the editor in my newspaper by Linda Lee Kennedy, the science department chairman of a local high school.我会引述琳达 ·李 ·肯尼迪给我的报纸的一封读者来信，她担任她所在高中科学系主任。 "There is a process that provides theories. They are first proposed as hypotheses, then supporting proof (evidence) elevates them to the status of a theory." “有一个提供理论的过程，他们首先提出了假说，然后提供支持性的证明（证据）使其上升到了理论的地位 ”。 She claimed that some theories have been "proven over and over." 她声称，一些理论已经再三获得证明” 。对于普通的人而言， Her comments sound right to the ordinary person, but actually they are partly right and partly wrong. 她的看法看来正确，但实际上，这种看法有一部分是正确的，一部分是错误的。

Linda at least corrected the common mistake of confusing a hypothesis with a theory. It is true that evidence plays a role in elevating a hypothesis to a higher status. However, Linda made four errors.

琳达至少纠正了许多人犯的一个共同的错误，即将假设与理论混为一谈。 It is true that evidence plays a role in elevating a hypothesis to a higher status. 这是事实证据中的作用，提升一个假设，以更高的地位。 However, Linda made four errors. 不过，琳达的说法有四个失误。

1.她对“ 证明” 性质的认识有误解。一项“ 数学证明 ”和“ 验证一项假设” 有很大的不同，无论过程及其结果，还是以证据支持一项理论与理解自然如何确切运行。

2. She misunderstands the nature of a scientific theory, because she thinks a theory can be proven. A theory can gain the confidence of the science establishment, and the usefulness of a theory can be demonstrated through practical applications, but the ability to predict and harness the forces of nature is not a convincing proof

3.A theory can gain the confidence of the science establishment, and the usefulness of a theory can be demonstrated through practical applications, but the ability to predict and harness the forces of nature is not a convincing proof that we understand how nature is really operating. 3.一项理论能够获得“ 科学共同体 ”的信心，一项理论的效用也可以通过实际应用进行演示，但是具有进行预测的能力以及驾驭（利用）自然力还不是令人信服的证据。

4.Man can understand a scientific theory because it was created by man. But that does not mean he understands nature. The theorist often gets the right answer for a practical application, but misunderstands what nature is really doing. He deceives himself if he thinks that understanding his model is the same as understanding nature. (More on this later.)

4.人们可以理解一种科学理论，因为它是人创造的。 但是，这并不意味着人们理解了自然。 一位 理论家往往为实际应用获得了正确的答案，但对于自然界确切如何运行方面依然有误解。他欺骗自己， 如若他认为他对于自己建立的模型的了解等同于自己对于自然的理解。 （对此后边有更多内容）。

5.A successful hypothesis is never directly promoted to a theory. It must first be formulated as a model that might incorporate other hypotheses.

5. 一项成功的假说是从来没有直接晋升为一项理论。 它 必须首先制定为可能纳入其他的假说的一种模型。

6.Evidence supporting a model is not enough to produce a theory. The science establishment supervises the process of review and determines which model shall become a scientific theory. A model passing through the elaborate process of review might fail for reasons other than inadequate evidence. Linda thinks that a hypothesis magically becomes a theory if the evidence is good. This is one of the myths of science that we shall consider at length.

6.证据支持一个模型是不足以产生一个理论。“ 科学共同体” 监督审查程序，并确定哪种模型应成为一个科学的理论依据。一个模型 ，在通过详细的审查程序时可能以证据不足以外的原因失败。 琳达认为一项假设可能魔术般地变成理论，如果证据是好的。 这是科学的一个神话，我们将在后边对此予以充分考虑。