Most people dont understand that nothing in science is ever set in stone. Science is just our attempt to model the universe with our theories.
What would our world be like if we accepted every single theory as fact, and never questioned it?
We might still believe in a flat earth or geocentric solar system.
We might still believe that things float or sink because of a certain amount of "Earth", "Water", Air" and "Fire" in it.
We might still believe that an Atom is the smallest unit of matter, and indestructible.
We might still believe in the theory of spontaneous generation - that animals and bacteria spontaneously generate from food.
I could go on, but even though I believe evolution is the most likely theory, I acknowledge that we truly know nothing, and that as we learn more our theories - our models - will change.
Is Evolution Fact or Theory?
Adam
2012/05/07 22:19:02
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If you are ever arguing about Evolution with a liberal you may be bombarded with a statement that Evolution is a fact. But hey wow wow wow wait a minute you say. There is no way Evolution can be a fact because there is no way you can show that it happened without a doubt. And facts are only those things that happened. This is where things get interesting. They will bombard you with something like this: Evolution is a fact because all the evidence points to it. It has been proven scientifically so therefore it is a fact. You then think to yourself what happened here. That is not what a fact is that is a theory or a Law. Well this is what happened. They changed the definition of fact so that they can make the argument that they want.
If you look in a dictionary today you might find that one of the definitions written for fact is:
The quality of being actual: Actuality - a question of fact hinges on evidence
another way of saying The quality of being actual is: Something that most likely happened. If you look in the 1996 dictionary or around that time period you will find that this definition of fact is not there.
So you can see liberals have changed the definitions of the words themselves so they can win the argument. At which point they make call you ignorant. Yet another word they changed by adding the word uneducated. Why is this important. Well if you don't know that Evolution is a fact then you must not be educated and therefore you can be called ignorant. Well who wants to be called ignorant. By doing this they hope they have shut you up enough, or that you have finally accepted that Evolution is a fact.
Well at this point you might be saying. This isn't fair; how could this happen. To them it isn't about fair it is about whatever they can do to win their agenda. Besides whoever defines the debate wins the debate right. In order to win the debate they have decided to backdoor a way to control the debate. So now that the whole conspiracy has been broken wide open do you agree with them that it is a fact or are you with me on it is a theory and hold to what we all were taught what a fact is when we were younger.
If you look in a dictionary today you might find that one of the definitions written for fact is:
The quality of being actual: Actuality - a question of fact hinges on evidence
another way of saying The quality of being actual is: Something that most likely happened. If you look in the 1996 dictionary or around that time period you will find that this definition of fact is not there.
So you can see liberals have changed the definitions of the words themselves so they can win the argument. At which point they make call you ignorant. Yet another word they changed by adding the word uneducated. Why is this important. Well if you don't know that Evolution is a fact then you must not be educated and therefore you can be called ignorant. Well who wants to be called ignorant. By doing this they hope they have shut you up enough, or that you have finally accepted that Evolution is a fact.
Well at this point you might be saying. This isn't fair; how could this happen. To them it isn't about fair it is about whatever they can do to win their agenda. Besides whoever defines the debate wins the debate right. In order to win the debate they have decided to backdoor a way to control the debate. So now that the whole conspiracy has been broken wide open do you agree with them that it is a fact or are you with me on it is a theory and hold to what we all were taught what a fact is when we were younger.
Now Darwin's explanation for evolution is a theory and could possibly be replaced some day although I doubt it.
Take a trip to Europe and see it for yourself.
Really you literally watched a skull grow? That is very interesting.
The difference is evolution has facts backing it up.
Just because they proved natural selection does not mean they proved evolution because they have never been able to prove the origin of life or the crossing of class lines.
Like this one? Lol
No, that's called a hypothesis. In the scientific world, a theory is an idea that ties together evidence into a logical conclusion that is peer-review multiple times so that others come to the same conclusion.
Do you consider gravity to be hypothetical speculation as well?
Definition of THEORY
1: the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
2: abstract thought : speculation
3: the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a science, or an art
4 a: a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the basis of action
5: a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena
6a: a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or investigation b: an unproved assumption : conjecture c: a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject
Exactly, the information is analyzed. It's peer reviewed. It's tested over and over and over again. It's questioned and doubted and stands up to the criticisms. It's not just speculation.
Oh by the way before you go running off I have something for you:
"An atheist has to know a lot more than I know. An atheist is someone who knows there is no god. By some definitions atheism is very stupid. " Carl Sagan
You fit that to a "T"!!!
http://www.talkorigins.org/fa...
http://evolution.berkeley.edu...
http://www.religioustolerance...
Here are some articles talking about what you just said. And since you can't be bothered to read them all, I'll just quote one for you.
"Scientific theories are explanations that are based on lines of evidence, enable valid predictions, and have been tested in many ways. In contrast, there is also a popular definition of theory—a “guess” or “hunch.” These conflicting definitions often cause unnecessary confusion about evolution."
" Evolution is a guess, speculation, hypothetical,etc."
And now let's look at the definition of hypothesis you gave:
"1a: an assumption or concession made for the sake of argument"
"2: a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences"
Yes, those are the same things.
Here's another quick example:
http://chemistry.about.com/od...
"A hypothesis is an educated guess, based on observation. Usually, a hypothesis can be supported or refuted through experimentation or more observation. A hypothesis can be disproven, but not proven to be true."
"A scientific theory summarizes a hypothesis or group of hypotheses that have been supported with repeated testing. A theory is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it. Therefore, theories can be disproven. Basically, if evidence accumulates to support a hypothesis, then the hypothesis can become accepted as a good explanation of a phenomenon. One definition of a theory is to say it's an accepted hypothesis.".
Definition of HYPOTHESIS
1a: an assumption or concession made for the sake of argument
b: an interpretation of a practical situation or condition taken as the ground for action
2: a tentative assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences
3: the antecedent clause of a conditional statement
http://dictionary.reference.c...
noun, plural hy·poth·e·ses [-seez] Show IPA.
1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.
4.a mere assumption or guess.
http://dictionary.reference.c...
the·o·ry
[thee-uh-ree, theer-ee] Show IPA
noun, plural the·o·ries.
1.
a coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.
2.
a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural and subject to experimentation, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.
3.
Mathematics . a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.
4.
the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.
5.
a particular conception or view of someth...
http://dictionary.reference.c...
noun, plural hy·poth·e·ses [-seez] Show IPA.
1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
3. the antecedent of a conditional proposition.
4.a mere assumption or guess.
http://dictionary.reference.c...
the·o·ry
[thee-uh-ree, theer-ee] Show IPA
noun, plural the·o·ries.
1.
a coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.
2.
a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural and subject to experimentation, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.
3.
Mathematics . a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.
4.
the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.
5.
a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles: conflicting theories of how children best learn to read.
Does this suit you better?