if the theory of evolution does not contradict any scientific fact, why its sitll a theory up to now?

Answer 1

Science uses the word "theory" differently than we do in ordinary life. What most people call a theory, a scientist would call a "hypothesis", that is. a possible explanation for an observation.

To test the hypothesis, one gathers facts and does experiments. When you have enough observations that support the hypothesis, then that hypothesis is elevated to a theory, that is, a collection of facts, observations, and experiments that taken together offer a solid explanation. That explanation, in turn, can be used to explain new observations and--very importantly--make testable predictions.

In other words, a theory is not the start, but the result of testing a hypothesis, explains a large body of facts, and can be used for prediction.

However, a theory is never proved, only confirmed. We can be very certain (as we are about evolution), but science allows
for the possibility that a better, more encompassing theory may still come along some day.

Some theories are well-established (and again evolution is one of them) and some are still in dispite.

By the way, most scientists would say that evolution is strictly speaking not a theory but an observation or a fact. What the theory is, is the mechanism of evolution. The most widely accepted one is Darwin's descent with modification or natural selection.

Don't let the "it's only a theory" folks con you; a well-accepted theory is as good as it gets in science.

Answer 2

So it would seem you have no idea what theory means. An idea, in science, is called a hypothesis. After is has been scrutinized and still holds up to scientific fact, it then becomes a theory. For example, we have the theory of gravity, because gravity has been supported by scientific fact.

Also, the theory part is how it happens, it is fact that it happens, it has been observed.

Answer 3

It never ceases to amaze me how many people asking this kind of question never even bother looking up the dictionary on what the word "theory" means, or how it is defined. I will be helpful, and give the excerpt of the FIRST definition of the word "theory"

1. A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Here's the NEXT definition of the word "theory"

2. The branch of a science or art consisting of its explanatory statements, accepted principles, and methods of analysis, as opposed to practice:

Here's the THIRD given definition

3. A set of theorems that constitute a systematic view of a branch of mathematics

By the time we get down to the SIXTH definition, we have:

6. An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture

Answer 4

A theory is a hypothesis that has been proven true by experiment. Evolution is not technically a theory. It needs to be proven true. But there's still too many holes in it. Too many debates. It will be elevated to theory status when it's shown to be 100% true. When Einstein had is ideas and hypothesis about light and space and time, one day scientists proved them true, and his hypothesis became the Theory of Relativity.

Answer 5

Because theories CONTAIN facts. And laws, and observations. They are not elevated to facts - they are the best thing we have, more useful than mere facts. They are like the top folder in science - no matter how many times they are confirmed, they will always be called theories, since theories, with their proof and evidence and predictive power, are above facts already.

Answer 6

Unless you have definite proof, a repeatable experiment, science defines it as a theory.

Due to the long time span of evolution, and that most of it is observations of fossils and conjecture of the progression of species from one form to the next. Therefore no direct proof, and a difficult thing to reproduce means it is a theory.

Answer 7

Because there are no scientific facts. They're called "theories" because they represent the best analysis that science can provide, yet scientists are aware that there will always being continued enlightenment through research and discovery.

Answer 8

Historical sloppiness.

The "Theory of Special Relativity" is more accurate and confirmed than "Newton's Laws". In fact, it corrects errors in them. Even so, nobody ever got around to changing the names accordingly.

Answer 9

For the same reason gravity is still a theory. It's as proven as it's going to be.

Answer 10

The original name is retained, even after proof.