I have stated this several times in previous posts -- historical science IS
predictive. Hypotheses are continually being tested by comparing
expectations of the hypotheses with future observations. It doesn't matter
that the events being reconstructed are in the past, only that the specific
observation or data was unknown to the investigator previous to the
prediction. This is done all the time. In my own research I am
continually testing my expectation against new observations. If they prove
out, my confidence in my hypothesis increases, if they don't that
confidence is weakened. If expectation are frequently not met, the
hypothesis is abandoned. That is the way all scientific theorizing works.
The recent discovery of the walking whales from Pakistan are a great
example within the field of paleontology.
Keith
Keith B. Miller
Department of Geology
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506
kbmill@ksu.edu
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~kbmill/
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