[arethuza]

In what sense can a scientific theory be "proven" correct of incorrect in the same way that a purely mathematical statement can? Aren't they two completely different things - with the mathematical argument being binary (it's either true or false) and the scientific argument, as you say, involving degrees of confidence based upon supporting or contradictory evidence?

[Of course, a scientific theory could be disproven by being based on incorrect mathematical reasoning - but that's presumably not very interesting]