Is Evolution a fact?

Question

or fiction?

It is a close running so far as far as opinions (72)

Answer 1

Let's try an experiment. Supposedly you place all the materials needed to build a house, wood, nails, wiring, concrete, etc. and place all this into a giant bowl. No matter how much you shake this bowl, how you apply heat or cold, how long you do all this to the material, it will never become a house. The final catalyst would have to be "intelligent design" in the end.

Answer 2

Hahahahah! Someone suggested that if evolution were fact, monkeys would sometimes have human babies!

WTF - how do people arrive at such bizarre misunderstandings? Wait, I know... sometimes, humans must have monkey babies, and that person is one of them.

The word fact is simply a way of saying a theory that is supported by so much evidence it is, for all intensive purposes, incontrovertible. Perhaps the only true facts are found in math. Everything in existence is based upon the laws that govern the universe. All "facts" are subject to revision when contrasting evidence is presented, thus facts are often revised. Certain facts have so much incontrovertible evidence to support them that we've ceased to question their validity, and simply accept them as truths (ie. nobody questions gravity.)

Evolution theory has a great deal of evidence, and while it most likely is true, at this point there are still enough people who refuse to see it as they see gravity, hence the debate continues. Calling it fiction is quite unfair because the theory has always been based on evidence. Someone didn't just sit down and "make it up" like a storybook.

Answer 3

Evolution is a fact. It is observable on a smaller scale, and based on evidence found so far, it is observable on a larger scale as well. This stuff has already been documented, and there is no disagreement among the scientific community that evolution actually occurs. In truth, it is only the religious community that seems to have any issues with it, and even then there are those who have no problems with linking both religion and evolution. The pope has accepted evolution since the late eighties. Hell, my own MOTHER believes in evolution, and she's one of the more religious people I know.

Honestly, those who do not believe in evolution in any form are about a century behind the times. And at any rate, the reason they don't believe in it is because they don't understand it.

Answer 4

Is there really, honestly a point to this question? It's not like this site is set up so that people can truly have a discussion about it.

It's a THEORY with more than enough evidence to demonstrate its validity. It is based on using the scientific method in observation of the world around us.

And before you go there -- "creationism" is a religious (i.e., faith-based) belief which does not belong in a science classroom. World religion? Sure. But not science.

And dude up there with the weird idea about what a theory is --
You cannot pit religion vs. evolution. They are not diametrically opposed. Creationism is not a theory - it's nothing more than an attempt by religious folk to make their bible stories in Genesis sound like it has some sort of scientific validity. You can change the name all you want --- it's still just a bible story.

Answer 5

The term evolution is fact. That is, evolution is a change in a species or gene pool over time. This is fact and has been recorded. The flu virus is a good example.

The question that is debated is whether humans are the way we are because of evolution.

Answer 6

Fiction.

Answer 7

Fiction!

Answer 8

I would say evolution is an undeniable fact that is to a great extent explained by the Theory of evolution. The theory of evolution is - like all other scientific theories - not a perfect and definitive theory, but will continue to be refined and improved for many years to come. It is, however, evidently based on empirical, scientific observation, not as many seem to think, just on pure guesswork or presumptions.

I would also like to stress that evolution in no way contradicts the Bible or the christian religion. The Roman-catholic church fully accepts evolution (albeit of course not all of the far-reaching interpretations of it ...), and also, most European christians are simply astonished at the great number of American christians who can't accept the results of modern science.

That said, personally I'm not a christian, but evolution or science has certainly nothing to do with that. ;)

Answer 9

Part fact, part theory.

Certain aspects of evolution are proven fact. For example, at the outset of the Industrial Revolution, coal soot darkened trees and the moths that were camouflaged to hide on them became darker. Similarly, we have learned some of the genetic mechanisms by which life adapts.

On the other hand, when we look at the fossil record, we are seeing a tiny fraction of all the species that ever existed and making broad hypotheses to fit the evidence. That's the theory portion.

Answer 10

It is a fact. The simple observation that the species of the Mesozoic era are completely different from those alive today is enough to show that it happens.

As for how it happens, that's where you hit a grey area. Most people believe Darwin's theory of Natural Selection, but there are a couple of other ideas out there.

Answer 11

Evolution is a scientific theory. In science, theories occupy a higher tier of importance than mere 'facts'... theories EXPLAIN facts. The theory of evolution explains the OBSERVED FACT that the genetic makeup of populations of organisms changes over time.

The theory identifies two primary mechanisms which ACCOUNT FOR the OBSERVED FACTS:

genetic drift... statistical variations in allele frequency, over time

natural selection... the non-random survival of randomly varying replicators

There is ongoing conversation about OTHER possible mechanisms which may ALSO account, in part, for the OBSERVED FACT that the genetic makeup of populations of organisms changes over time, such as 'punctuated equilibrium'.

The PRECISE answer to your question, though, is that 'evolution' is NEITHER fact not fiction... it is a THEORY. It EXPLAINS facts. The FACTS (the genetic makeup of populations of organisms changes over time) ARE NOT in dispute.

However, the word 'fact' CAN BE applied to evolution in the sense of COMMON USAGE... that being:

"In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent'. ~ Stephen J. Gould

In THAT sense, 'evolution is, indeed, 'fact'.


P.S.: For a wonderful example of why some people should not be allowed to breed, see Christian93's answer, on page 3.