A question about evolution?

Question

Is it a fact? Or is it just a theory?

Answer 1

Fact.
Theory as a scientific term, meaning pretty much undisputed.

Answer 2

Theories are supported by evidence, like facts.

They are not simply guesses that somebody made up on the spot. To become a theory, an hypothesis must consistently match the evidence:

Here is a definition:

Wikipedia: Scientific theory

In common usage, people often use the word theory to signify a conjecture, an opinion, or a speculation. In this usage, a theory is not necessarily based on facts; in other words, it is not required to be consistent with true descriptions of reality. True descriptions of reality are more reflectively understood as statements that would be true independently of what people think about them. In this usage, the word is synonymous with hypothesis.

In science, a theory is a mathematical or logical explanation, or a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition. For example, it is a fact that an apple dropped on earth has been observed to fall towards the center of the planet, and a theory which explains why the apple behaves so is the general theory of relativity.

Answer 3

The difference between a fact and a theory is the level of proof.

There is a large amount of physical proof to support the theory of evolution so we can therefore infer it is fact.

Answer 4

To many a theory is merely a guess but to a scientist a theory is something completely different.

In science, a theory is a mathematical or logical explanation, or a testable model of the manner of interaction of a set of natural phenomena, capable of predicting future occurrences or observations of the same kind, and capable of being tested through experiment or otherwise falsified through empirical observation. It follows from this that for scientists "theory" and "fact" do not necessarily stand in opposition.

Evolution is an undeniable fact.

Answer 5

Proven facts are called 'Laws of Science' for example the Law of Gravity.
Unproven ideas are called theories, for example the THEORY of evolution.

As someone else said, Microevolution is a fact. This more commonly known as adaptation. An example: a species of bird chooses to mate only with other birds of its kind who have the most brightly coloured feathers. Thus the most brightly coloured birds mate the most, passing on the genes for bright feathers to their offspring. Eventually, there are very few dull coloured birds or none at all. This process is used in breeding champion race horses or show dogs etc.
If a population of a species is split up in to two groups and each group only breeds within itself, certain traits may become dominant, and the groups will be come slightly different but they remain the same species.
However there is a big difference between this and Darwins theory that flying fish grew feathers and one day when they leapt out of the water they flew away.................

Answer 6

It is a theory - but not JUST a theory. A scientific theory CONTAINS facts and laws and observations. Gravity is a theory, but you still stick to the ground. Electricity is a theory, but your computer still works. Quantum theory is a theory, but your MRI works. In science, nothing is JUST a theory.

Answer 7

Theory, based in fact.

Answer 8

Scientific Theory which composes lots of facts.

Answer 9

Fact

Answer 10

Evolution is a Theory. ALTHOUGH as someone pointed out, Microevolution is quite a different story. (And AGAIN, when I SAID "*Educated Guess" I GOT RODE LIKE A DAMN HORSE.) It points out the "Big Bang" which both sides do agree on. The Nebular Theory comes to mind.

Answer 11

It’s just like the theory of gravitation; that is, scientific fact. Religious doctrines are neither fact nor theory, they are opinions and wishful thinking.