Maybe evolution should have a name change?

Question

To more accurately reflect the theory scientist are proposing.

Because when you say evolution,what's gonna pop up in peoples mind generally is one animal changing or transforming into another animal. Maybe it oughta be called Animal Adaptation or Adaptation of living orginisms or something. Maybe who ever named the theory choose a word that's kinda misleading and misrepresenting of the actual theory.

Name Change?Yes or No?Why or why not?

Answer 1

I think that the creationists will go out of their way to make sure that people have the wrong idea about evolution whatever we wind up naming it.

These rampant misconceptions didn't just happen, you know.

Answer 2

The fact that Pokemon misrepresents evolution is hardly a reason to revise the scientific literature. Evolution means gradual change. Not misleading at all. The term is appropriately applied in the scientific community and misapplied in popular culture. Were the scientific term to change, what would prevent new popular misconception?

Answer 3

No, I think the theory is adequately described by the word evolution. Evolution applies to plants, bacteria, insects as well as animals. Eventually over generations, evolution says that the organism does transform into a new organism through genetic mutations that allow for better survival. I am a Christian, and I do not see how it would benefit. I think it would lead to confusion.

ev·o·lu·tion Biology. change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.

Answer 4

People will always misinterpret what's being said. If Evolution has a incorrect connotation, then changing the name will just mean there will be a incorrect connotation to the new word in twenty years.

That being said, I think the word works fine, and that incorrectness you are talking about is rarer than you think.

Answer 5

We've heard evolution for 150 years now.
Do you work for Microsoft, because I skipped a month of updates and they changed the name of Ole to ActiveX then I couldn't understand anything from them for 3 months.

You'd have to get a better memo system than the one that they used to tell us that Pluto isn't a planet now because I still think there's 9 planets and have to remind myself that 9 wouldn't pass on the "Are you smarter than a fifth grader" show.

Blessed Be!

Answer 6

Well...Darwin named it and it's pretty much agreed upon, so why change it? Evolution is pretty much considered to be a Law by most scientists( except that 1% who think Jesus took a thorn out of a T-Rex's paw).

"Evolve" doesn't necessarily mean "improve" but, like you say, "adapt". Example: northern Europeans evolved small noses and nostrils so that they could warm the cold air of their homelands. They evolved white skin so that they could absorb more Vitamin D.

Answer 7

It's not the word that is the problem, it's certain people's misrepresentation (sometimes deliberate, sometimes out of ignorance) of what the word means that's the problem. The word itself perfectly describes what it's talking about. "Evolve" means to make small, gradual changes over time.

Answer 8

No Maurice H, I don't think a name change would be a good idea. It's what people already know it as and to change it may cause some confusion...

Answer 9

Changing names is what Creationism/Christian Science/Intelligent Design does. Evolution is, and always has been, evolution.

Answer 10

What it's called isn't the problem. Self-imposed ignorance of some theists is. Changing a name won't effect that.