-Dose evolution belong in a phIlosophyclass - or a science class?-?

Question

Ok, when I ask most educators "why evolution is the only theory we study for the origin of life, and why it is; for that matter, presented as fact, not theory?" the stock answer is "because it's the best thing we have - there are other theories - but they belong in a philosophy class." However in my studies I have found nothing scientific about the theory at all that should make it better than any other. It seems to be a kind of faith. And in my mind (unless proven) also belongs in a philosophy class, So my big question to you is...
-DOSE EVOLUTION BELONG IN A PHILOSOPHY CLASS - OR A SCIENCE CLASS?-

You don't have to, but it would be helpful to me if you could include your: education level, belief system(including Atheism, and Evolutionism), age, gender, and race. I will let the community vote for best answer because of my biest. May the best answer win.

Answer 1

It belongs in science. For an example of natural selection, follow up the paper below.

Geology graduate. Catholic.

Answer 2

I don't have a belief system. I'd love to know how you came to the erroneous impression that evolution is not a scientific theory. Its wholly scientific - unlike intelligent design which is an underhanded attempt by bible bashers to sneak God in to school. My education level is post-graduate - my race and gender are irrelevent! Evolution certainly does NOT require faith - are you sure you didnt get what you know about it from a creationist textbook? Evidence for evolution is all around you. Science never asks you for faith - it says look at the facts, look at the evidence, if its wrong, so be it, we'll find a better theory if it is wrong. Evolution belongs in a science class as much as anything can. I'm just stunned to read 'I have found nothing scientific about the theory at all' - May I suggest you go back to Darwin. He was a religious man and he did not want to discover something that showed things in the bible to be false but that's what he found. If you are honest you must ask yourself if your religion will allow you to give any theory of creation an objective view, if to you the bible is 'inerrant' then no theory no matter how accurate can dissuade you from following a religious view and neither can reasoned debate reach you. I pity you if such is the case. There is more wonder to be found in science than in your religion. **Also you have fallen in to a trap intentionally spread by religious types that wilfully misunderstand the term theory as applied to the sciences. You might consider Einstein's THEORY of gravity. Do you think that because it's 'just a theory' it might be wrong and one day you might violate curved spacetime by falling up in to the sky? A theory is not just a hypothesis - it is one that has been well formulated and supported by evidence and NEVER ever contradicted - and dont you think creationists have tried to disprove it? A century later they've got nothing. What does that tell you?**

Answer 3

Evolution is a science because proper scientific principles are used to study it unlike any of the other suggestions for the origins of life which depend on ideas written down by people who did not have all the knowledge we have today There is not one single fact which will proved the the evolutionary process happened (A fact that creationists try to use to defend their hopeless position) However evolution is a proven fact because of the total amount of evidence to support it which is over whelming. The latest research in DNA also supports the discoveries made by paleontologists and archaeologists.No faith is involved or necessary just a careful study of the available evidence which does take some time as it is so vast and comprehensive . If you have found nothing scientific about the evidence for evolution you have not been studying it properly or you are not sufficiently intelligent to understand it. I an a university graduate, a member of Mensa and an agnostic

Answer 4

The discussion of Evolution is relevant to both Science and Philosophy classes. As a scientific theory we can see it working. That is why it is factual. The next question is 'Does it always work?' but you didn't ask that.

If course if you had asked it the answer would be a bit unsatisfactory. There are places where we don't know if it works because we don't know enough, But that's the same with all scientific theories including Relativity.

In a philosophy class you can compare and contrast it with the concept of Intelligent Design. So it fits there as well. The problem with Intelligent Design (for example) as a scientific theory is that I don't know of an experiment that would prove it wrong (or right actually). The best you can say is that it is conceptually possible.

As I see it we are incredibly arrogant and we expect to know everything and even be able to know everything. How unimaginative of those Victorian gentlemen who vilified Darwin to think that evolution knocked God out of the window . Because we know more than our ancestors it doesn't mean we know everything there is to know. How little faith they had.

Education: BA, MSc, PhD
Age 63 white UK male
I believe in evolution and I if pressed I would say I believe in God. My instinct tells me there is more to life than we know.

Answer 5

Hello,

This is a very good question and very topical too I'd say.

Anyway the problem as I see it is, that Darwins ideas that later became his now famous book The Origin of Species & his theory of Evolution through natural selection are No.1) is backed up by scientific evidence from sampling of plant species & animal species & human remains of our own ancestors No.2) The science of genetics can be used to show how natural selection takes place through the generations. No.3) We now have a massive fossil record that crosses many millions of years & covers the entire planet from pole to pole. It shows how species changed, adpated or became exstinct, (like the dinosaurse's).

**The problem is that Darwinian Evolution IS a subject that shouldnt be "pigoen holed" as one thing or another. The problem you are faced with is that evolution can be proven by actual facts & evidence from fossils and yet its also a very profound theory that also raises deep philosophical questions too at the same time. You cannot make a round peg fit into a square hole,etc. Well I think evolution is like that, its controvertial because its span is far reaching. Its both fact, theory & philosophy too, you will only end up with a heachie if you try & make it anything less.

IR

Answer 6

I would tend towards the philosophy class...if not a religion study.

To add my 2 cents worth, I have observed that the theory of evolution has been mixed with scientific facts, thus making it difficult to differentiate the two. However, the two are distinctly different. One uses their evolutionary theories to try to assist in their scientific observations and conclusions. As new scientific discoveries are made, the theory of evolution changes.

The strange thing is, if one were to look at the scientific discoveries of fossils and the likes, without being filtered with the evolutionary theories, they would find that they don't have any conflict with that which is written in the Bible.

I won't go into this any deeper, as I'm probably going off topic.

Education: 3 years of computer science
Belief System: Christian (one of those conservative ones who don't believe in evolution...rather, I believe in the Biblical account of 6 days of creation.)
Age: 32
Gender: M
Race: Human

Answer 7

I do believe that evolution belongs in a philosophy class and not in science class. Science class should be left to things that are fact, and evolution is just a theory. I'm sure many people think that creation is a theory as well, but I believe that if we are to entertain a scientist's theory we should also have enough respect to study creation too. We should also be taught any other theories that are out there, it's only fair. I am a Christian, but I did not complain when we were being taught about Hannukah in school. But, they can't teach us about Christmas in school, because that would be "offensive." What is the world coming to?

I am a high school graduate, Christian(Southern Baptist), 25 years old, female, and I am caucasian.

Answer 8

First, it's important to understand that the word "theory" when used in science means "a verified explanation accounting for known facts." [Random House Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language]
Evolution is a set of verified facts in the same way that the Theory of Gravity and the Theory of Relativity are. So the simple answer is, the Theory of Evolution belongs in science classes. It is NOT based on faith but on hard evidence.
I have often heard (and read in this forum) that science is anti-religion. I believe that science and religion are both important aspects of human culture, and that each has an appropriate place in our lives, but they attempt to answer different questions. Science is NOT anti-religion - lots of scientists are religious - but many people who claim to be religious are obviousy anti-science because the findings of science disagree with the explanation given in their chosen Holy book.
If you are really interested in this question, read some real scientists (not creation scientists, which is an oxymoron) such as Stephen J. Gould, Brian Greene or Richard Dawkins, all of whom write well about science for people who are not scientifically trained. Or just do a Google search and follow some of the links (Wikipedia has some good information for non-scientists).
You do not have to give up a belief in a supreme creator to acknowledge the truth of evolution.
I am a 57-year-old American male who has lived in Japan for 20 years. I teach junior/senior high school English and science. I do not count myself among the faithful of any creed, but I suppose that Buddhism comes closest to my personal belief system.

Answer 9

The theory (which is actually a collection of smaller theories) is scientific. I'm sorry you have a dismal teacher, but that's the fate of many. There are no other theories, only hypotheses which remain hypotheses because they have not been tested. No theory is ever proven, only disproven. The hypothetical mecanisms of gravity (gravitons and gravity waves) are yet to be demonstrated. Does gravity belong in a philosophy class?

My demographic information doesn't change hard facts.

Answer 10

Theory

A theory in technical use is a more or less verified or established explanation accounting for known facts or phenomena:

Belief

The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another


Evolution

This subject is presented in Science class because there is at least some factual scientific evidence that the theory is based on.

Fossils, DNA relationships between ALL plants and animals, experiments in genetics, etc.

This theory can be demonstrated in experiments and personal observation that leave little room for other interpretations


Creationism

Is not a theory but a belief system, because there is no FACTUAL evidence that can be cited to support belief in creationism.

No experiment can be done to verify it.

The facts in existence directly controvert this belief, Again fossils, Genetics, etc

It is a belief system because one has to accept the word of the Biblical authors, translators, and editors as fact with no demonstrable evidence.

46 yrs, Male, Cauc, 2 years college, Navy Nuclear trained, non-denominational