Abstract
In any scientific field, there is always a possibility, in which a particular theory dominates for many years. In this paper, the theory of magnetic reconnection in solar physics and auroral physics is reviewed as an example. It has prevailed for more than a half century in both fields as the “only one” without a concrete progress in understanding the source of energy for solar flares and auroral activities. This unusual situation is analyzed why and how it occurred. Since such a situation could occur in any scientific field, it may be useful to analyze how this situation happened. Actually, it is pointed out that a study of global warming may also be in a similar situation.
Highlights
It is perhaps somewhat unusual that a particular theory has overwhelmingly prevailed for more than a half century without a concrete understanding its purpose, namely understanding the source of energy for solar flares and auroral substorms
Solar physicists came up an idea that an anti-parallel magnetic configuration in the solar atmosphere might annihilate itself explosively and releasing a large amount of energy, regardless if such a process could really occur in nature; Figure 1
This theory has overwhelmingly prevailed in a study of solar flares in solar physics and auroral activities in auroral physics, respectively during more than a half century
Summary
Journal of Research in Philosophy and History Vol 3, No 2, 2020 www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/jrph ISSN 2576-2451 (Print) ISSN 2576-2435 (Online).
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