A comprehensive explanation of a given set of data that has been repeatedly confirmed by observation and experimentation and has gained general acceptance within the scientific community
in other words: It has TESTED evidence to back it up.
So nothing is "just a theory"
People loosely throw this word around like it meant just a random thought or personal opinion
2006-11-06 12:25:26 · 15 answers · asked by J. P 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Actually Rahl404, it CAN BE and HAS BEEN tested.
2006-11-06 12:34:54 · update #1
I blame the faulty American educational system and fundamentalist religious groups that exploit the ignorance of their constituency.
2006-11-06 12:27:25 · answer #1 · answered by E D 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I think, although you have provided the true definition of the word, most people believe it's closer to a guess. This is because we used the word often to mean as such...ie "I have a theory about why that girl acts like that." But thank you for clarifying what is meant by the "Theory of Evolution."
2006-11-06 12:32:36 · answer #2 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok, language is fluid, some words change meaning now and then, slipping into the use of the society and their meaning slipping.
Thus, Theory has reached the point where it seems to mean "An educated guesstimate" or perhaps "Within the realm of possibility, but not nessicarily true"
And unfortuantly, some people never learnt on how to use a dictionary. Not meaning you, J.P.
2006-11-06 12:36:12 · answer #3 · answered by guhralfromhell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is called evolutionary theory for a reason. it is impossible to know for sure that we came from monkeys...and we didn't by the way because why are they still here? wouldn't natural selection have selected them out and had only the evolved survive? and there is no way we know how long ago life began because the carbon dating formula only works for certain conditions, the formula itself is based off of speculation of what the earth was like back then. so no matter how many times it is "proven" that evolution has occurred, it is only proven in the sense that the earth was under those exact conditions. so evolution is one big lie. religion is different. it is a BELIEF, a GUIDE for people to follow. it is not just an explanation for why we are here today.
2006-11-06 12:36:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
This is only true with certain empirical sciences. Theoretical physics does not rely on observation and experimentation but mathematical models, instead.
2006-11-06 12:30:19 · answer #5 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cause most people aren't into science. It's just like "monsoon" describes wind patterns, not rain, but people think it means rain. Just the way the language is alive.
2006-11-06 12:31:14 · answer #6 · answered by Muffie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of them do, however, if they didn't play word games, they would start to see faults in their beliefs.
And in response to the person who asked why you weren't open to god if nothing is "just a theory": god is faith, not theory...there is a difference.
2006-11-06 12:34:32 · answer #7 · answered by Bill K Atheist Goodfella 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess some people do not own dictionaries? Maybe they feel asleep in science class? Or maybe, just maybe, they never got that far in school. *wink*
2006-11-06 12:36:22 · answer #8 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As much as I agree, it doesn't matter. They'll still use the "it's just a theory!" defense just like they use the "if humans evolved from apes, why are there still apes?" argument.
2006-11-06 12:29:34 · answer #9 · answered by . 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Obviously, you don't know the true meaning of the word theory. Theory is not fact, it is an assumption.
2006-11-06 12:30:58 · answer #10 · answered by Butterfly Princess 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋