Reply to Re: SkeleTony
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"Theory" is not something that is lacking evidence to be a fact. It is an EXPLANATION OF A FACT. The 'how's' and 'why's'. We have the FACT of gravitation and the THEORY of special relativity AND the theory of gravitation to explain the force of gravity. We have the FACT of evolution and the THEORY of Natural Selection and the Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium that explains HOW organisms evolve and diversify.
EDIT: I just realized I was wrong when I typed the first paragraph. But let me still keep the rest of the post to give examples about the difference between theories and facts:
Let's assume I hold an apple in my hand, then I may have the theory that it will fall when I release it. That's a theory, not a fact, it comes from my mind, not from the apple actually falling. Now when I release it it will fall, so it is no longer a theory but a fact. Until it hits the ground that is, then I can have the theory that it fell and the fact that it fell. Both are really similar, but still distinct. Now it is worth noting that there is no way to know for sure that the apple didn't somehow supernaturally warp itself to the ground. (Though I think most people would probably accept that theory.)
Evolution is very similar to the falling of the apple. We can study gravity, and we can ask the person who released the apple to tell us what happened. We even can study the brownish spots that appear after a while when you drop an apple. In the same way we can study all kinds of things related to evolution, for example you could study fossils and similarities in proteins and genetic material between species, you could even study evolutionary processes that occur within the human timespan if you'd like. All of this is supporting evidence for the theory of evolution.
This is not to say that the fact of evolution does not exist. It is to say that there is also the theory of evolution, they aren't mutually exclusive. Let me write a couple of theories:
- Gravity pulls things down, not up.
- Animals have evolved from single celled organisms.
- Round wheels are more efficient than hexagonal ones.
All of these theories have pretty good evidence to support them. Also note that I do not have to rewrite them to say: 'Let me write a couple of facts:'
When I followed a course in physical chemistry a couple of years ago I was actually surprised to hear the teacher explain that the laws of thermodynamics have never been proven, they are postulated. And since nobody has ever given good evidence that they're wrong we accept this. At least I laugh when somebody proposes to make a perpetuum mobile...
I agree with most of your post. The idea that calling something a theory means that it is less true is not correct. The theory that dropping an apple will make it fall is quite likely indeed.
EDIT: Me is nitpicking, I know. All I wanted to say is that technically speaking you can call 'evolution' a theory if you state it like a theory. So just saying 'evolution' does not a theory make as it doesn't propose anything, but the statement 'animals have evolved from single celled organisms' is a theory. EDIT2: And likely a fact too.
EDIT: I just realized I was wrong when I typed the first paragraph. But let me still keep the rest of the post to give examples about the difference between theories and facts:
Let's assume I hold an apple in my hand, then I may have the theory that it will fall when I release it. That's a theory, not a fact, it comes from my mind, not from the apple actually falling. Now when I release it it will fall, so it is no longer a theory but a fact. Until it hits the ground that is, then I can have the theory that it fell and the fact that it fell. Both are really similar, but still distinct. Now it is worth noting that there is no way to know for sure that the apple didn't somehow supernaturally warp itself to the ground. (Though I think most people would probably accept that theory.)
Evolution is very similar to the falling of the apple. We can study gravity, and we can ask the person who released the apple to tell us what happened. We even can study the brownish spots that appear after a while when you drop an apple. In the same way we can study all kinds of things related to evolution, for example you could study fossils and similarities in proteins and genetic material between species, you could even study evolutionary processes that occur within the human timespan if you'd like. All of this is supporting evidence for the theory of evolution.
This is not to say that the fact of evolution does not exist. It is to say that there is also the theory of evolution, they aren't mutually exclusive. Let me write a couple of theories:
- Gravity pulls things down, not up.
- Animals have evolved from single celled organisms.
- Round wheels are more efficient than hexagonal ones.
All of these theories have pretty good evidence to support them. Also note that I do not have to rewrite them to say: 'Let me write a couple of facts:'
When I followed a course in physical chemistry a couple of years ago I was actually surprised to hear the teacher explain that the laws of thermodynamics have never been proven, they are postulated. And since nobody has ever given good evidence that they're wrong we accept this. At least I laugh when somebody proposes to make a perpetuum mobile...
I agree with most of your post. The idea that calling something a theory means that it is less true is not correct. The theory that dropping an apple will make it fall is quite likely indeed.
EDIT: Me is nitpicking, I know. All I wanted to say is that technically speaking you can call 'evolution' a theory if you state it like a theory. So just saying 'evolution' does not a theory make as it doesn't propose anything, but the statement 'animals have evolved from single celled organisms' is a theory. EDIT2: And likely a fact too.
