Replies

But is that really how science works? Not every proposition in a theory exposes the theory to extinction by disproof. Those in the HARD CORE of the theory certainly do, but these are the cardinal propositions in the theory, not auxiliary laws, models, etc.

For example, the field of genetics is based on the cardinal rules governing of combinations of genetic "factors". Should someone find that alleles do not in fact combine in accordance with those rules, it's bye bye to Mendel.

But the precise mechanism of the joining of alleles does not have to be hard-wired in genetic theory. Someone can find that a commonly held view of crossover and mutation is not accurate, and the hard core of Mendel's theory would still hold.

One must distinguish between these cardinal, essential propositions in a theory, and the outer ring of ad-hoc or weak principles that merely support the theory or explain its mechanisms in some cases.

This is why I framed my question in terms of the relative place of the speed of gravity proposition in the general theory.

If they really wanted to measure the propogation of gravitational waves, why would Jupiter passing thru the light waves coming from the Quasar even enter into it?

They could simply measure the timed arrival of the light waves as Jupiter approached these waves, as it passed thru these waves, and as it continued passing by these waves to see if the aberrations in the light waves are the same approaching and leaving the light wave.

If the light wave has a constant distortion before and after Jupiter passes thru, then gravity has an infinite speed. If the ligth wave has a gradual distortion as Jupiter approaches and leaves the wave, then the speed of gravity could be calculated.

Tha assumption that the speed of gravity is equal to the speed of light is a cardinal assumption. If the experimental data are different and these data are found to be correct then the theory of gravity according to Einstein is finito and must be replaced by something better.

That is what happened with Mendel's theory as well (it has been refined as you mentioned)

Science is always evolving, no Final Theory exists.