As a teacher, what if someone told you that biological evolution was just a theory? What would you say?

Question

As an environmental science teacher, how would you respond to someone who tells you (a) that he or she does not believe in biological evolution because it is "just a theory"?

Answer 1

Technically, and scientifically it is a theory. Theory doesn't mean that it isn't true though, it simply means it is the most widely accepted opinion of the scientific community until someone can come along with a better theory or disprove the theory.

"God created Us" is not a scientifically accepted proof against the theory of evolution. This is because without evolution DNA mutation makes no sense, even though it is a well observed phenomena.

Fossils also would have no explanation.

And as a teacher, it would be best to say that it is okay to not believe every theory, because many past theorems have been proved wrong, but that he or she should maybe look into evolution a little more before casting a judgement.

Answer 2

As with anything in the human experience, everything on earth is "just a theory." No matter how much insurmountable evidence there is for the proof or existence of a scientific belief, there is always the chance that something may just come along to alter what the scientific community has regarded as truth for a very long time. Such was the case with mental illness, which was once soldily believed as demonic infestation. Another generally-accepted-but-yet-unproven idea is the very existence of the atom.

My first step would be to determine what the student's aim is in stating this. Are they strongly religious? Are they shirking homework? Could it be that they're only belligerent? Perhaps they were stating a fact heard elsewhere, even.

The idea is that everything is "just a theory" - from scientific analyses to the idea that the sky is blue. Essentially, it all boils down to one's views personally. As for how to counter it, remain open to other ideas while suggesting the student assume the information you're presenting is what's to be tested on. - A

Answer 3

Be careful. Some science teachers are notorious for not having much of a sense of humor about this one. So, before making enemies, remember that your answers on the test have to match the answers on the answer key.

To answer your question, however...

"The theory of evolution is a scientifically tested system that explains the diversity of life here on Earth. You can choose not to believe in this theory for whatever reason, but that doesn't mean that the theory still isn't the best logical explanation of the research and data we have. So if you've got a better theory that explains the data better, AND can predict future results better than the existing theory, then start testing. The nature of science is that the most reasonable thought, the one that explains our world the best, is the one that wins."

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Answer 4

I'd be tempted to shout "bullsh*t, you don't believe in evolution because someone wrongly told you it isn't compatible with your religion".

I'd explain that in science a theory is not just unproven speculation. That a theory is upgraded from hypothesis once a large enough body of proof to overcome rational doubt. I would continue to explain that a theory deals with a broad subject, not a tightly bound particular area in the way a law does.

I'd also note that there are no laws in biology, might ask them to name one.

I'd add that the 'theory' talk among creationists is a semantic game played by people who don't have any understanding about the distinctions between hypotheses, theories and laws in science.

Answer 5

Somewhere, I've got a set of pictures showing the development of a fetus. That development absolutely is biological evolution from sperm and egg to a breathing and thinking individual.

ev·o·lu·tion (µv”…-l›“sh…n, ¶”v…-) n. 1. A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.

That's not a theory, that's using a dictionary.

Answer 6

A scientific theory isn't the same thing as a theory we talk about in everyday conversation. Something is a theory until it can be unequivocally proven. An example would be that we have known the structure of an atom for some time now, however, because we can not directly see the structure, it is still called nuclear theory. No one questions nuclear theory because we have indirectly tested parts of the theory in everyday devices. Evolutionary theory is similar in that respect. We have proved that micro-evolution occurs in small-trait changes that have occurred in recorded history. For example moths in Pennsylvania that were once brightly colored to blend in with flowers, turn black to blend in with coal dust when we started mining coal in that state. Later when mining regulations reduced the amount of coal dust, the moths turned brightly colored again. Evolution can't be proved unless we have direct observations of it occurring.

Answer 7

I would have to explain the difference in meaning between the scientific meaning of theory and the common bastardization of that meaning. That is exactly what it is. You see many scientific terms " commonized ". Such as chaos; quantum and, our focus, theory. To say that some thing is " just a theory " to a scientist is to engage his selective hearing; all he will hear is theory. That will mean to him; something supported by overwhelming evidence, empirical supported and having great predictive power. Not written in stone, though. Some theories are totally overturned; the geocentric theory. Some are just refined or expanded; the Einsteinium theory of relativity, following Newton's physical laws. We still use Newton's law for many earthly uses. So, dispelling ignorance is one thing, but enlightening a " true believer " is another.

Answer 8

Gravity is just a theory. All of science is just theories! But some of them we have quite a bit of data that can be explained by the theories, so we believe the theories to be true. But in science, if new data is found that can't be explained by the theory, then it is time for a new theory! That's how science works.

Answer 9

I would tell them that they are confusing "theory" with the word "hypothesis". It is a common misconception because laypeople use the term theory to mean a guess about something. In science, a theory is based on testing that has shown the hypothesis to be true.

Answer 10

Terry, that's not evolution, that's just gestation...

Yes! My point exactly! Gravity is only a theory! Since all forces are particles, such as light, (yes, light can be either waves or particles, but not both), scientists have attempted to prove the gravitational theory by finding the gravitational particle! However, they have not found it, and the theory cannot become law until they do!

You try proving a particle with no mass is there! Yes, there are other particles with no mass, exactly no mass, not almost no mass down to billionths of ounces, but no mass at all.