Why do so many people have trouble understanding the difference between "theory", "hypothesis" and "guess"

Question

It seems particularly prevalent amongst our Christian friends. Did they not go to school? Are dictionaries not allowed?

Answer 1

Because to be fair theory has a different meaning in science than the colloquial meaning which is more like hypothesis or even 'vague idea'.

What's bad is that often, its a deliberate misunderstanding used to attack a theory they know is correct but have to reject because it contradicts superstitions they have to believe in or they think they'll burn alive forever.

Stated like that you can understand why so many people are religious - there just aren't enough practicing psychiatrists.

Answer 2

McGospel, You are SO wrong about Darwin. Yes, he may NOT have FINISHED his "degree" at Cambridge, but he WAS the BEST scientist that could have been possibly chosen for the 5 year voyage of the HMS Beagle. Darwin served as a geologist, botanist, zoologist, and general man of science, during that five year voyage and made a great many discoveries during that time. His geological discoveries included a great many paleolithic finds such as many of the great dinosaurs of South America, as well as he was able to determine the rate of sedimentation of the ancient seabed on Argentina and Chile. His work with the coral reefs of the south Pacific region is still the standard for today's ongoing research. His charts of the wave patterns are still in use by modern navigators in the south Pacific, as are his many charts of the reefs and coastlines of many of the South Pacific Islands. The man not only discovered an enormous number of animals but also is credited with discovering thousands of previously unclassified plants and herbs. So, a scientist is a person who DOES science, regardless of what it may or may not say on a piece of paper. For a person who had NO degree, he was one heck of a fantastic scientist. A scientist that many folks who DO have a PhD would aspire to become. He may very well be the single greatest natural historian that ever existed on the face of the planet, just in terms of major discoveries in the areas of Geology, Botany, and Zoology. Even IF we ignore his "Origin of the Species" work. Brightest Blessings, Raji the Green Witch

Answer 3

Probably it is because people treat the "theory" of evolution as an established fact. They claim to know the difference between a fact and a theory but then they go on to argue that there is "proof" for the theory of evolution and since they have faith in that theory they want other people to join them in believing on it.

Check out The Evolution Cruncher from a link of the Free Stuff page @ http://web.express56.com/~bromar/ to see what scientists have said about this "theory".

Answer 4

When you have a belief system based only on concept, you cannot have your followers cognizant of the vast differences that exist between that belief system and current evidence and knowledge. You equate the two by bastardizing the meaning of "theory' and count on your 'sheep' to blindly accept the misrepresentation. Due to the inherent nature of the average theist, it is an easy sell.

Answer 5

It's not hard to understand that first something is a hypothesis before it's a theory. And the scientific meaning of theory is not guess.

Answer 6

Well, the non-technical definition is guess.

Otherwise, there's a few reasons: Some people haven't been taught that the word theory has more than one usage, some have forgotten that piece of information (to some its just not that useful), or they have an agenda to promote, so it becomes neccesary to play a game of semantics.

Answer 7

Government schools?

Answer 8

I am not sure about dictionaries, but they do seem to have a serious problem understanding spell check, don't you think?

Answer 9

They are the same people who have a gross misunderstanding of the word truth.

Answer 10

cuz dats sientefec nd dey donut underestends dem humoungolous wurds.