when did 'Evolution Theory' became 'Evolution Fact'?

Answer 1

Scientific theory is used to explain observed facts.

Answer 2

Posting a science question in the religion and spirituality section often means the asker does not really want an answer. His goal is to ask a question that he believes proves some scientific knowledge to be wrong, or that science does not yet answer, and make the implicit claim that the only other explanation is a god, and specifically, the same god he happens to believe in.

It's the "god of the gaps" - intellectually bankrupt, since it favors ignorance instead of knowledge, and because of the contained logical fallacy.

However, on the off chance that you really want to know the answer:

Claim CA201:
Evolution is only a theory. It is not a fact.
Source:
State of Oklahoma. 2003. House Bill HB1504: Schools; requiring all textbooks to have an evolution disclaimer; codification; effective date; emergency. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003-04hb/hb1504_int.rtf
Response:

1. The word theory, in the context of science, does not imply uncertainty. It means "a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena" (Barnhart 1948). In the case of the theory of evolution, the following are some of the phenomena involved. All are facts:
* Life appeared on earth more than two billion years ago;
* Life forms have changed and diversified over life's history;
* Species are related via common descent from one or a few common ancestors;
* Natural selection is a significant factor affecting how species change.
Many other facts are explained by the theory of evolution as well.

2. The theory of evolution has proved itself in practice. It has useful applications in epidemiology, pest control, drug discovery, and other areas (Bull and Wichman 2001; Eisen and Wu 2002; Searls 2003).

3. Besides the theory, there is the fact of evolution, the observation that life has changed greatly over time. The fact of evolution was recognized even before Darwin's theory. The theory of evolution explains the fact.

4. If "only a theory" were a real objection, creationists would also be issuing disclaimers complaining about the theory of gravity, atomic theory, the germ theory of disease, and the theory of limits (on which calculus is based). The theory of evolution is no less valid than any of these. Even the theory of gravity still receives serious challenges (Milgrom 2002). Yet the phenomenon of gravity, like evolution, is still a fact.

5. Creationism is neither theory nor fact; it is, at best, only an opinion. Since it explains nothing, it is scientifically useless.

Links:
Moran, Laurence. 1993. Evolution is a fact and a theory, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolution-fact.html

Isaak, Mark. 1995. Five major misconceptions about evolution, http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-misconceptions.html
References:

1. Barnhart, Clarence L., ed. 1948. The American College Dictionary, New York: Random House.
2. Bull, J. J. and H. A. Wichman. 2001. Applied evolution. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 32: 183-217.
3. Eisen, J. A. and M. Wu. 2002. Phylogenetic analysis and gene functional predictions: Phylogenomics in action. Theoretical Population Biology 61: 481-487.
4. Milgrom, Mordehai. 2002. Does dark matter really exist? Scientific American 287(2) (Aug.): 42-52.
5. Searls, D. 2003. Pharmacophylogenomics: Genes, evolution and drug targets. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 2: 613-623. http://www.nature.com/nature/view/030731.html

Further Reading:
AIG. n.d. Arguments we think creationists should NOT use. http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/faq/dont_use.asp

Gould, Stephen J. 1983. Evolution as fact and theory. In Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, pp. 253-262. http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html

Answer 3

A scientific theory can never become a fact or a law. This is because theories are made up of facts and laws. Theories can only either stay a theory, or be disproven. There is also the term evolution, which means a change in a gene pool over time, which is fact. So evolution is fact, the "theory of evolution" is that evolution resulted in the different species we see today.

Answer 4

Never! As a matter of fact "intelligent design" has replaced the theory of evolution. The observable evidence of evolution does not exist. Simple, anything left unattended for a million or 10 billion years whither away and dies. It does not and never has evolved form an ape to a man. Where is this proof? It is not and never will be fact, accept for those that refuse to believe the fact that there is an intelligent designer. The latest greatest scientist have, based on the evidence and findings in the last 20 years or so, determined that there is no way evolution of man could of ever taken place. This is with the most up dated modern equipment as well as all the old stuff.Stop the wishful thinking. There are also no other planets that we know of, where the conditions are able to produce life. This planet is the only planet known that has the conditions for producing life. So accept the fact that this is where we are today and all the scientific evidence is pointing more and more to what Christians have been saying all along. Intelligent design. Get it? No proof of monkey type creature turning into mankind. If we were actually animals then we would probably not have technology. We are way different than animals when it comes to our minds and spirits. Our bodies can be somewhat similar because we all live in this atmosphere. But other than that evolution is not factual in regards to mankind.

Answer 5

When creationists kept saying, "It's just a theory," ignoring the working theory is based on facts that have been proven.

If Creationists would use the real definition of a scientific theory instead of treating it like it was some guess based on nothing but a hunch, then we could have a conversation using a common language. But since creationists insist on defining theory away from science, then scientists are willing to state the reality that there is more evidence supporting evolution as a fact than there is that gravity is a universal force.

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Answer 6

you dont know the scientific explination of a theory. you think it is a type of hypothesis. it isnt. its an explination. it explains whats been going on. a theory is tested and tested and tested from every angle it can be tested from. its not a law because a law is only a statement while a theory is an explination. evolution is a fact. the theory of evolution explains how organisms adapted and changed to best survive in their environment.

Answer 7

Why didn't you ask this question in one of the science sections? I don't think you really want an answer...you just wanted to make some kind of point and had to pose it as a question to fit within the rules of YA. You are not open to being convinced; you have already make up your mind so you don't want anyone to confuse you with the facts and you probably won't accept any of the previous very good answers and you will probably just pick someone who says "Yes, you are right." But if you think you are right, why do you need to have affirmation from total strangers?

Answer 8

The use of the scientific term theory, unlike that word's meaning in common usage, does not run count to the meaning of the word fact. Something could be both.

Answer 9

When the definition of 'scientific theory' became different from the definition of 'theory'. IOW - from the very beginning. Look up the words.

Answer 10

It hasn't. It is still strictly classified as scientific "theory" and not as scientific "law." Unfortunately, a lot of people don't understand that scientific distinction, especially those in the media and in the political arena, and they mistakenly promote the theory as "fact." Educated scientists understand the distinction.