Do people who doubt the theory of evolution, doubt the theory of gravity or relativity?

Question

As a scientific theory is a "well substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that incorporates facts, laws, inferences and tested hypotheses" and no amount of validation can turn a theory into a law. The fact that it is described as a theory in no way refers to scientists reservations about evolution being a fact, just as they do not have any reservations that gravity is a fact, or that those who don't understand the theory of relativity, certainly are happy to accept that as a fact as they fly 30,000 feet above the ground during air travel.

So surely if you doubt the scientific facts of evolution you must equally doubt all scientific theories, like what goes up, must come down?

So question is do you doubt all scientific theories or just cherry pick?

Answer 1

People are often confused by the terms "Theory of Gravity" and "Law of Universal Gravitation". Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation was a postulate, an assumption built into his mathematical model. It was well over a century from Newton's writing until a direct measure was made in the Cavendish Experiment. The Theory of Gravity describes the mechanisms and behaviors of one of the four fundamental forces in the universe. Some Creationists do not know the difference and parrot those who are dishonest.

Gravity is a weak theory. It's mechanisms -- gravitational waves and gravitons -- have not been detected. Quantum gravity has not been solved mathematically. Measurement of the gravitational constant is far behind the precision of electromagnetic constants. There is even a question of the equivalence of the gravitational mass and the inertial mass being equal.

Evolution has demonstrated mechanisms and there are less fundamental questions that go unanswered.

P.S. In a plane at 30,000 feet, I'd worry about the theory of aerodynamics. Without lift, the remainder of your flight will be brief.

Answer 2

In general, a theory means a speculation, an opinion or a conjecture. However, in science, the word has a different meaning. A scientific theory is a framework of interconnected statements that explains the phenomena behind observed facts. These statements are well supported by observed facts and calculations, and can be tested by using experiments. If the theory is falsified, that is, it fails to predict or explain any new observation, the theory is modified, or abandoned in favor of a better theory. Some examples of theories are the theory of gravitation and the theory of relativity. In this context, the theory of evolution is the framework that explains how species evolve over time.

Answer 3

I get what you're saying. It doesn't make sense to dismiss a scientific theory such as evolution-- a very PLAUSIBLE one, according to the fossils we've found -- when so many other scientific theories are so widely accepted.

Some people dismiss the theory so easily just because they don't care to know, and that, my friend, is called ignorance. Do you have any idea how many people can't even DEFINE evolution properly?

I think what it comes down to is that even the concept evolution is far more intricate than most people give it credit for. We didn't evolve from "lower" lifeforms; it's a loaded word, and it's an oversimplification. But even more than that it isn't a matter of US evolving; we are merely standing the next step in an evolutionary staircase. Whether we're at the bottom of the staircase, we don't know, because we can see neither over nor beyond the step we're standing on. All we know is what and where we are NOW.

Evolution is a process that takes thousands to millions of years, with minute changes popping up now and then in a nature-determined trial and error. No one species "turns into" another. Certain traits which prove to be advantageous endure in the offspring, who are therefore likely to produce more offspring and pass on the trait. Those who are disadvantaged -- either by the presense or lack of a trait -- are less likely to produce as many offspring, and over time, die out.

Darwin wasn't 100% correct, which is why Darwinism is so often dismissed. But come on, give the guy a break; he was living in the 19th century, LONG before there was access to the kinds of tools and machines we use today. We're not saying that Darwinian evolution is infallible; like everything scientific, there are some follies and some really good points. That's why it's important to be critical, but not judgmental; science is about objectivity.

There's plenty of evidence to support the theory of evolution, but the truth of the matter is that we'll probably never be able to prove it by any scientific method. It just takes too damn long to see any real differences.

Think about this before giving me another thumbs down. I don't have any kind of agenda; I'm not trying to prove anything or convince anybody that what I think is right. I'm just trying to be the voice of reason here and provide some important information.

Answer 4

Most people who doubt the Theory of Evolution have no idea what a scientific theory is. There is a huge difference between the Theory of Gravitation and the Law of Gravitation. Look it up.

Answer 5

guraqt2me-Your pitiful list of a few hundred scientists compared the the tens of thousands who do support evolution is laughable.

www.talkorigins.org
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/evotheory.html
http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/lenski.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/evolutio.htm

Quiet Buck-I did read that now I want my 4 minutes back. That has to be in the top 10 loony posts I have come across out here.

EDIT-Since the bible is a work of fiction I have no need to debate anything you have based your premise on. As far as i am concerned you may as well have based it on war and peace. You are right most geniuses are a little "eccentric", but they are dealing wit scientific data and facts, not the ramblings of goat herders from 4000 years ago who would have been dumbfounded with the "technology" involved with a wheelbarrow.

Answer 6

I don't believe in Darwin's theory of evolution. It is dumb. I hate it. The Other one is Uncertainty principle. I hate it too. Most of others are better and nice. Relativity is Extraaaaaa- Ordinary. I love it soo... much. Almost I love all of the other physical theories. They are very interesting..right?

Answer 7

No. They are ignorant and willful idiots. They would rather only know invalid arguments, because coming up with valid arguments would require they participate in learning and elevate themselves to something resembling independence. They are scared and intimidated by things like knowledge and science and thus refuse to act in a reasonable way. It is embarrassing to be a human being, in the year 2007, and have peers who insist the world is 6000 years old and evolution is "just a theory".

Complete ignorance leads to arguments against evolution. I have never met someone educated on evolution who didn't accept it.

Answer 8

I feel sorry for the people above me who say the theory of gravity does not exist. (It does!) It's SEPARATE form the law of gravity!

The "theory" of FSM is not scientific!

The theory of evolution is as much a theory - supported by facts - as the theory of relativity and the theory of gravity. It is not a guess... it is not about us having come from monkeys... it is not of us evolving from "lower life forms"... it DOES have, literally, mountains of evidence... it is accepted by most scientists as a fact and theory (both also separate things).

Answer 9

As has been shown by many of the answers you have already received,many people do not understand the scientific definition of the word theory.
Evolution is a proven fact.Most of those who choose to deny it do so because it conflicts with their religious beliefs.

Answer 10

in order to doubt, one has to understand the theory first. it is much easier for people to fool themselves and others into thinking that they understand evolution than it is with relativity. popular culture is full of (false) demonstrations of how evolution works, but most people are sensible enough to realise when they don't understand relativity.