Isaac Asimov on the Relativity of Wrong: How Scientific Theories Evolve Through Progressive Refinement

Isaac Asimov responds to a letter from an English Literature major who attempts to correct Asimov's scientific understanding. Asimov uses this as a springboard to discuss the nature of scientific progress and the concept of "wrongness" in science. He argues that scientific theories are not simply right or wrong, but exist on a spectrum of accuracy, with each new theory building upon and refining previous ones. Asimov illustrates this with examples from astronomy, geology, and other sciences, showing how even "wrong" theories contributed valuable insights to scientific progress.