Why do people believe in evolution do they not understand its a THEORY? (NOT a FACT)?

Question

SIKE!

Ok i know i just made all of the intelligent people out there either cringe, bang their heads on their desk, or ran to the liqueor cabinet.

and prob made the egnoramous christians say "hallelujah"

but the point of this question is will everyone please give the definition of "Theory".

(I just got a drinking message from the user "forget my name")

Answer 1

Scientific Method is a method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data are gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested.

Name one scientist who was around to observe nature 1,000,000 years ago. You cannot.

Evolution cannot be proven by observation.

Therefore evolution cannot be proven empirically.

Observation/empirical evidence is a crucial element in employing the scientific method.

Because evolution cannot be proven using the scientific method, evolution is not science.

If evolution is not science, what is it?

Evolution is a theory.

What is a theory?

A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena. Most theories that are accepted by scientists have been repeatedly tested by experiments and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

Evolution, however, cannot be tested.

Answer 2

Many people learned in elementary school that a theory falls in the middle of a hierarchy of certainty--above a mere hypothesis but below a law. Scientists do not use the terms that way, however. According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a scientific theory is "a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses." No amount of validation changes a theory into a law, which is a descriptive generalization about nature. So when scientists talk about the theory of evolution--or the atomic theory or the theory of relativity, for that matter--they are not expressing reservations about its truth.

In addition to the theory of evolution, meaning the idea of descent with modification, one may also speak of the fact of evolution. The NAS defines a fact as "an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed and for all practical purposes is accepted as 'true.'" The fossil record and abundant other evidence testify that organisms have evolved through time. Although no one observed those transformations, the indirect evidence is clear, unambiguous and compelling.

All sciences frequently rely on indirect evidence. Physicists cannot see subatomic particles directly, for instance, so they verify their existence by watching for telltale tracks that the particles leave in cloud chambers. The absence of direct observation does not make physicists' conclusions less certain.

Answer 3

Try the Dictionary! First, no one puts forth a theory unless there is substantial evidence to support it. I could theorize that carpets fly. Who would think I was serious, if the only evidence I had to back up my theory was "The Thousand And One Arabian Nights"? The whole idea behind a theory is to present the available evidence, knowing full well that there will probably be additions in the future. Once a theory has been around long enough and there are no further changes in evidence, it becomes a law of science. That's why it's the Law of Gravity and not the theory of gravity. The only evidence that the Biblical Right has to substantiate their belief is a badly written collection of folk tales. Might as well believe that carpets can fly.

Answer 4

A theory in science is VERY different than a theory to a lay person.

In science, it is something than adheres to the observable evidence. It may not be 100% correct because we don't have the ability to FULLY test it but it is what fits what we CAN test. Scientist will refine or alter the theory as more evidence is presented.

To a lay person a theory can be as far out as a guess. Who hasn't watched a cop show on TV where they had a 'theory' based on conjecture and instinct. Since creation myths of every religion are untestable and therefore UNPROVABLE they are just guesses with no basis in science or logic.

......and yes you made me cringe, bang my head on the wall AND take a drink all at the same time. I think a pulled something.

Answer 5

The word theory does not imply that something is not a fact. Nuclear theory is used to create bombs and atomic power plants.

The word theory means that something is no longer a hypothesis; it is an idea for which significant proof has been established.

A scientific law and a theory are much the same thing. There is no elevation beyond theory.

Theories may be modified. Theories may evolve. Some theories may be found to have alternative explanations. Still, a theory is simply what happens to a hypothesis after significant proof that of the hypothesis has been found to show it accurate and viable.

What was called a "law", decades or centuries ago, are called "theories" today.

Answer 6

THEORY:
1. a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory"
2. a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices"


There. How's that? Now, please do the honorable thing and stop using the phrase "just a theory". A theory, in science, is a magnificent thing. I wish to add that the word "tentative" in definition 2 above should not be taken too much to heart. In science, everything is tentative, pending new evidence should it arise.

Answer 7

Heather, evolution was first described by the British Naturalist, Charles Darwin, in 1858, in his book, The Origin of Species. At the time, religious zealots would consider his beliefs contradictory to The Bible, so it was not easy to get around them nor to ignore their influence (see Antidisestablishmentarianism, which meant the church should not rule the state, especially in Great Britian).

In his book, he used Comparative Anatomy to show the similarities between the species, such as the eyes in reptiles to their descendants, which included birds and mammals. His beliefs were original and theory, of course, but we now know it is not religious heresy nor false.

Just like so many things, the name lingers on for years following their discovery, so it is left over from a hundred and fifty years ago. Believe me, it has been proven many times over and can be proven again with 21st-century technology, so there is no doubt about evolution and how it is not a theory after all.

I can give you a hundred examples, so please don't ask.



-RK

Answer 8

In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it can in everyday speech. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from or is supported by experimental evidence. In this sense, a theory is a systematic and formalized expression of all previous observations that is predictive, logical and testable.

Answer 9

It is a theory, although unlike a theory such as "intelligent design", it has some pretty impressive scientific evidence to support it.

The point is, it's ALL theoretical. I may be old, but I don't recall being around as the earth was cooling.....I don't think any of us recall seeing a big boat full of animals pass by as we were out for a swim....so there is no way to know for sure.

Until, that is, the aliens show up with their camcorders! :)

Answer 10

Evolution is simply a way for man to explain the origin of earth without God. Evolution will never be proven; therefore, it will always be a theory, and not even a good one at that.