Why were Dalton's ideas about atoms considered a scientific theory whereas the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers were not?

Question

Olivia Anton · Accepted Answer

Because what Dalton proposed and theorized was testable....

And for a fact we don't know what old Democritus proposed. He might have had a sophisticated understanding of chemistry and atomic theory...he certainly did not communicate it. On the other hand, Dalton's atomic theory was made on the basis of evidence and data....and further, the experiments that Dalton performed could be performed and considered and modified by other researchers....his competitors and rivals, as well as his collaborators. And thus we get the modern science of chemistry, developed after a MERE 200-300 years.... As regards scientific theories, one of their most important characteristic properties, is their #"FALSIFIABILITY"#. What does this mean? Well, the theory might right or wrong. The theory is scientific if it is falsifiable, i.e. we can conceive of (and perform) experiments whose results could show that the atomic theory is untenable. So far, no experiments have been performed that have punched holes in Dalton's main ideas.

Ellie Andrews · Answer

undefined Dalton's ideas about atoms were considered a scientific theory because they were based on empirical evidence and supported by experimental observations. Ancient Greek philosophers' ideas about atoms, on the other hand, lacked empirical evidence and were more speculative in nature, based on philosophical reasoning rather than experimental investigation.

Axel Alvarado · Answer

undefined Dalton's ideas about atoms were considered a scientific theory because they were based on experimental evidence and could be tested through further experimentation. In contrast, the ideas of ancient Greek philosophers lacked empirical evidence and were more philosophical in nature, lacking the systematic testing and evidence-based reasoning characteristic of scientific theories.