List of minority-opinion scientific theories

A minority-opinion, or unpopular, scientific theory is a scientific theory which has not gained wide-spread acceptance in the scientific community, usually because of lack of supporting evidence, or because it challenges a well-established current theory or scientific assumption. Minority-opinion theories run counter to the majority view in science, called the "scientific consensus" (which is the collective judgment, position, and opinion of the majority of scientists in a particular field of science at a particular time).

Minority-opinion scientific theories make claims which are falsifiable although probably not yet verified. They should not be confused with pseudoscience or superseded scientific theories.

Current minority-opinion scientific theories

This list is of theories which are currently minority-opinion, or not GeneRally accepted.

• Multiregional hypothesis, as opposed to the Out-of-Africa model
• Homo floresiensis as a modern human with microencephaly
• Exogenesis, as opposed to geogenesis

Minority-opinion science and paradigm shifts

Sometimes the term Paradigm shift is used to describe a change in the scientific consensus (or a change in the basic assumptions within the scientific theory or a change in the worldview of the scientific community). The change can result in a previously majority-opinion theory being replaced by a minority-opinion scientific theory.

Some examples of paradigm shifts in the scientific consensus would include:

• The transition from a Ptolemaic cosmology to a Copernican one.
• The unification of classical physics by Newton into a coherent mechanical worldview.
• The acceptance of the theory of biogenesis, that all life comes from life, as opposed to the theory of spontaneous generation, which began in the 17th century and was not complete until the 19th century with Pasteur.
• The shift in geometric outlook from particular structures to transformation group theory with Felix Klein's Erlangen Program.
• The transition between the Maxwellian Electromagnetic worldview and the Einsteinian Relativistic worldview.
• The transition between the worldview of Newtonian physics and the Einsteinian Relativistic worldview.
• The development of Quantum mechanics, which redefined classical mechanics.
• The acceptance of Plate tectonics as the explanation for large-scale geologic changes.
• The acceptance of Lavoisier's theory of chemical reactions and combustion in place of phlogiston theory, known as the Chemical Revolution.
• The acceptance of Charles Darwin's evolution theory as opposed to creationistic theories
• The acceptance of Mendelian inheritance, as opposed to pangenesis in the early 20th century
• The movement, known as the Cognitive revolution, away from Behaviourist approaches to psychological study and the acceptance of cognition as central to studying human behaviour.

See also

• Cognitive bias
• Confirmation bias
• Cultural bias
• Dinosaur#Extinction theories
• Gravity#Alternative theories
• List of misconceptions
• List of pseudoscientific theories
• Mindset
• Paradigm shift
• Scientific consensus (for a discussion of the majority scientific view)
• Superseded scientific theory