Fact
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Template:Wiktionary Fact is the following:
- Generally a fact is an event that has happened, or a statement that is generally regarded as true — whether one accepts it as real (true) or not. There are issues concerning whether all statements claimed to be true need be claims of fact. Statements about the truth of a theory or a scientific law, for example, are often regarded as not being claims of fact. Sometimes, of course, there are differences of opinion over what is factual, and there are some methods for attempting to minimize those differences. However, it is to be noted that the term 'fact' is more often used in contemporary society as a euphemism for 'agreeable reality'. A 'Fact' and its relative pertinence to factual reality is often so distant that anyone with the attention span of a four-year-old and a modem can edit something as credible as an encyclopedia. It is important to note how the modernization of the term pertains to the terms' own value; in contemporary society if you can't handle the truth, you can simply edit it at the top of the page
- In philosophy, a fact is either a true proposition or something (a state of affairs, for example) that "makes" a proposition true. (See truthmaker)
- In science, a fact is data supported by a scientific experiment. A fact is an honest observation. A scientific fact is an honest observation seen by many scientists. A scientific fact is a scientific observation that is so accepted that it becomes difficult to consider other interpretations of the data. A fact may tentatively support or refute a model of how the universe works. Facts do not prove a model is correct. One observation of any phenomenon does not prove anything.
- Psychological aspects of factual claims: We tend to see facts which support our position and ignore facts which contradict our opinion. However, events that do not fit our framework also tend to stand out and draw our attention.
- In law, a fact is a statement which is found to be true by a "tryer of fact," sometimes a jury, but often the court (the judge or judges) after hearing evidence.
- In computer science a fact is a single data value generated or used by a business process.
- Abbreviation for the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act).
See also
Facts are necessary as evidence to support empirical theories.