current evolutionary theory, the theory just changes to accept the new data, but the presuppositions dont change, what evidence would scientists accept that would cast doubt on evolution itself?
2007-04-12 16:44:28 · 13 answers · asked by Barbara J 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
a rabbit fossil in a precambian layer
2007-04-12 16:47:57 · answer #1 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This might be the result of confusion about evolution being BOTH a fact AND a theory.
That evolution happened (and continues to happen) is a well-established fact. It is a strong as any principle of science that exists. The definition of fact is something for which the evidence is so overwhelming that it would be irrational to seriously consider that it is false. Note that a fact is not defined as absolute certainty.
It is almost impossible to imagine some kind of evidence that would cast doubt on the fact of evolution. The fact that we know how living things grow and reproduce is evolution itself, and evolution is the cornerstone of all of the biological sciences. How could one new piece of evidence contradict all life as we know it?
Exactly how evolution occurs, is a question of theory. We know an enormous amount about this, but we continue to learn more and there are myriad "sub-theories" regarding very specific and meticulous aspects of genetic mutation, speciation, etc. New evidence continues to change ("refine" is more accurate) the theory all the time. Just today it was announced that there was new evidence discovered which strongly indicates that modern birds evolved from dinosaurs. This was suspected in the past, and now that particular theory is much stronger.
2007-04-13 00:08:06 · answer #2 · answered by HarryTikos 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Science doesn't claim something is absolutely, forever and ever and ever true. It claims that something is a theory.
Newton's theory of gravitation was accepted science fact, and is still in heavy use today, but it's limited in accuracy to spaces the size of a planet. It fails when discussing gravitation at the solar or galactic level. Should we then presuppose that gravity doesn't exist? Of course not, that would be ridiculous.
Like with gravity, the theory of evolution alters to accept new data because, unlike religion, omniscience is never assumed.
To cast scientific doubt on evolution, you would have to find evidence that casts doubt on the mechanism of evolution itself--which hasn't been done yet. For example, finding fossilized evidence that hominids existed during the Precambrian era. That is an evolutionary impossibility. Finding that there is no "missing link" between neandertals and homo sapiens doesn't disprove evolutionary theory, it just disproves the theory that homo sapiens evolved from neandertals.
It's simple really.
2007-04-12 23:55:04 · answer #3 · answered by Muffie 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No! Solid evidence has been accumulating since the early 1830s and *very little* has changed. Some 95% of scientists agree with evolution. Biology, botany, comparative anatomy, zoology, paleontology and much more are involved and...
... *not one piece* of evidence has overthrown the ToE!
Some *very minor* changes in the tree (*not the theory*) arose with DNA analysis; which perfectly confirmed over 98% of earlier models, while the remaining ~1% was an easily handled refinement of earlier work.
WHAT EVIDENCE / CHANGES ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
2007-04-12 23:47:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
That's the way science works: when new evidence comes to light, theories must be changed or discarded. And that's the problem with religion: when new evidence comes to light, theories remain the same, regardless of how ridiculous they become.
What evidence? Precambrian rabbit, I believe.
2007-04-12 23:48:48 · answer #5 · answered by RabidBunyip 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is the beauty of science, which self-corrects itself all the time. That is why science books have to be re-written and updated every year. We are always learning something new about the universe we inhabit. Science is just the way we learn that knowledge and is always evolving. Just like we did, and are doing as I write this, evolving.
2007-04-12 23:50:00 · answer #6 · answered by skunkgrease 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
>What evidence? You are running on a huge presupposition. You really need to learn about reality while you're still able to enjoy it.<
2007-04-12 23:50:07 · answer #7 · answered by Druid 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There would have to be some humongous breakthrough, but finding it would be appreciated. Scientific theory is constantly changing, and that's what makes it so great.
Something like evidence for all life being created rather than evolved would put a stopper in it, like that would ever happen. ;)
2007-04-12 23:48:15 · answer #8 · answered by juhsayngul 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Evolution doesn't bother me. God made evolution happen. He is behind of everything.
2007-04-12 23:51:07 · answer #9 · answered by Gone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you read Genesis, and realize that it is metaphorical, you will learn that there is no conflict between evolution and science and religion.
just don't pay attention to the word "day." think of it as it was written---in the first "TIME"
2007-04-12 23:48:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋