Question

Listed following are a series of statements that each make a claim. Classify these as either testable by accepted methods of science or non-testable by accepted methods of science. Be sure to note that this question does not ask whether a statement would pass or fail a test; it only asks whether it is testable in principle.

Answer 1

Science can pursue only those questions about natural phenomena that make predictions we can test, at least in principle,
through observations or experiments. Of course, not all testable ideas will pass the test, in which case science demands that we revise or discard them. In contrast, non-science statements are generally not testable, though they may still be true.

Testable by Science:
- Mars once had liquid water on its surface
- There will be a solar eclipse next Tuesday at 11am
- Earth orbits the Sun every 365.25 days
- Bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics through changes in their DNA
- People born under the sign of Sagittarius are twice as likely to be teachers as anyone else

Not Testable by Science
- Hurricane Katrina was an act of God
- Vince Young is the greatest quarterback of all time

(The reason the astrological answer choice is testable is because at least in principle, it should be easy to determine the astrological signs of teachers, and then see whether it is true that Sagittarius are more likely to be teachers than others. In fact, such tests have been done, and the claim was not true - but it was testable)