Why is it important to understand the scientific definition of a theory when studying evolution?

Question

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Answer 1

Because scientists have a very precise meaning of the word 'theory', but our everyday use of the word is very imprecise.

(1) In everyday usage, it can mean a complete guess without any supporting evidence at all. As in "I have a theory about where I lost my car keys."

(2) But in science, a 'theory' is a body of statements that explain a large set of observations and experiments. So by definition, a theory has *evidence* (the phenomena it explains). The more evidence ... the more observations or experiments it explains ... the stronger the theory.

Examples of (2) are: the theory of gravity, Einstein's theory of relativity, the germ theory of disease, the plate tectonics theory of geology, the atom theory of matter, chaos theory, quantum theory, string theory, the big bang theory, the heliocentric (sun-centered) theory of the solar system, and, yes, the theory of evolution. If the more evidence the stronger the theory ... then the theory of evolution is one of the strongest theories there is (e.g. there is more evidence in favor of it than there is for relativity or quantum theory).

People who say that evolution is "just a theory" either don't understand the distinction between (1) and (2), or they deliberately try blur the distinction to mislead people.

You will also notice that they throw the phrase "just a theory" ONLY at evolution. They do not lobby to put "just a theory" warnings in the front of physics books that mention relativity, or chemistry books that talk about atoms ... ONLY in biology books, and ONLY in reference to evolution. This again reveals that they don't really have a problem with theories (or else they would have a problem with *all* of science), but in THAT PARTICULAR THEORY ... and thus that the objections are not scientific, but religious.

Answer 2

Many of the objections to the theory of evolution come from people who do not understand the scientific use of the word theory. They believe a theory is something that is nether true or false. This misinterpretation of the use of the word leads to a lot of confusion over evolution. Therefore a complete understanding of the definition of a theory as it is used in the sciences is an essential precursor to the study of evolution

Answer 3

Many people think a theory is a hypothesis. A hypothesis is sort of a guess. This is what many creationists think a theory is. A theory is a hypothesis that has been supported through observation, study, experiments, etc. So the theory of evolution was a guess that has since been supported with all kinds of science to the point at which is it ridiculous not to think it is by far the best explanation for the species