How do theories change scientific concepts
How do theories change scientific concepts
Assistant Prof. Dr. Abdulkhaleq A. Alhadithi/ dept. of Applied Geology/ college of Science/ University of Anbar
Abdul.6363@uoanbar.edu.iq
Perhaps my specialization makes me inclined to write in it, but what most get my attention is how the theory of plate tectonics affected scientific concepts in earth sciences, especially tectonics and structural geology, because I contemporary this theory in my scientific career. The theory of plate tectonics was written at the end of the sixties of the last century by dozens of geologists after obtaining evidences and facts that supported this theory. This theory prevailed in the seventies and eighties of the last century until this day. The summary of this theory says the upper part of the Earth’s interior, to a depth ranging 100-150 km, called the lithosphere, that is not one piece but there are fractures or boundaries make this solid lithosphere, that surrounds the globe, to consist of seven major pieces and eight minor pieces, each one of them is called a plate such as the Arab plate and the African plate, which is separated by the Red Sea. There are dynamic activities in the Earth’s interior working to move these plates very slowly.
Before the birth of this theory, the interpretation of existence of regional geological features such as mountain ranges and sedimentary basins e.g., seas and oceans, or local geology features such as folds and fractures in rocks depended on the effects of vertical stresses or forces. Many books and researches have been written at that time or before, I confirm the specialized references, based on the principle of vertical force.
One of the most important scientific facts proven by the theory of plate tectonics is the current distribution of the continents and oceans is not what it was in the past as it was believed before this theory, and more importantly, the horizontal force is the main factor for the development of the regional and local geological features not the vertical force. Due to this principle, geologists specializing in this field had to change all scientific concepts for their interpretations of the development of these geological features, especially the earth science is one of the sciences that bears the interpretation philosophy. As a result, a number of specialized books and researches were neglected or canceled by filtering of geology information based on new scientific concepts. Perhaps this thing confused the geologists at first, but eventually they helped them to give accurate interpretations. Not only that, but the new concepts helped them give accurate interpretations of problems that were difficult to give which based on old scientific concepts.
The theory of plate tectonics, which changed many specialized scientific concepts, is not only a theory worked on that, but also many theories in other scientific departments have worked. A good understanding of scientific concepts will facilitate giving interpretation or analysis then finding evidences and facts that prove the accuracy of what we are saying.
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