Why would scientists say that evolution is a fact if its not?

Answer 1

Evolution is a theory. In science, theories are used to explain facts.

Answer 2

Actually, real scientists never say anything that they are still researching is a fact. Evolution as a theory is as close to a fact as it will be. A theory is something that has stood up through tests and has not been proven wrong. Anyone saying something in science is a fact really does not understand how science and scientists work. There are still questions that even evolutionists have not answered yet, and maybe they will answer them and maybe they won't.

Answer 3

Scientists do not claim that evolution is a fact; no scientist worth a salt would claim that a theory is a fact (Edit: and yes, I stand by that statement... in light of some above remarks). Instead, scientists take the position that natural processes are responsible for phenomena in the universe, including the existence of humans in their present form. That the investigation of these processes through experimental and empirical means with presumptive falsifiable hypotheses is the best way to examine the universe is the philosophy behind science. Since its founding, the modern scientific method has produced a tremendous amount of knowledge for humankind and its validity as a means of attaining such knowledge of the natural world is, or should not be, in question.

Having said that all scientific inference is limited to either the empirical or observational or experimental data available, or the limitations of the mind (in the case of pure theory). As such, no scientific inference should be taken as a fact except with the explicit or implicit assumptions present. For example, the notion that "things that go up must come down" is a scientific inference that is valid only near large celestial bodies (including Earth) and only in our experience. It is entirely possible that the law of gravitation as we have formulated is not valid in other corners of the universe. However, we have NO basis for believing that it would not be except our rational thought that it *might* not be. Therefore, given the lack of evidence otherwise, we presume that gravitation works the same everywhere.

Similarly, there is no evidence that falsifies evolution as a hypothesis. There is a mountain of evidence that supports the notion. Therefore, as a validated scientific hypothesis it is called a scientific theory. Is it possible that there exists evidence that disputes evolution? Yes, of course it is. Again, any scientist worth the name should recognize that possibility. That does NOT mean, however, that just because there *might* be evidence to the contrary that we should call it quits on evolution as the explanation. Instead, it behooves us to further investigate as long as we can - and our children, grandchildren, etc. can.

Is evolution a fact? No.
Is evolution the best explanation we have for the variation amongst and between species? A resounding yes.
Is it possible it's wrong? I'd have to give back at least two, and arguably five, degrees to three different universities if I said no... so, Yes.

Answer 4

Like many words, evolution has more than one meaning. It is used both as a fact and a theory.

Evolution is defined in biology as "A change in allele frequencies in a population over time." This is a fact. It has been observed in many many thousands of examples. Unlike the claim by wordman below Evolution is not the same as speciation.

Evolution is also defined as the theory which explains this fact.

A fact is defined as a statement about reality for which the evidence is so strong that to disbelieve it would be simply foolish.

A theory (as used in science ) is defined as "a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena" .The term does not imply tentativeness or lack of certainty. For instance Human Sexual Reproduction is the theory that explains where babies come from.

The Theory of Evolution uses propositions such as Mutations and Natural Selection to explain the fact that Evolution occurs.

A law is a statement describing a relationship observed to be invariable between or among phenomena for all cases in which the specified conditions are met.

In science laws and theories are two entirely different types of things one does not become the other. Laws are not facts either. Laws are statements describing relationships, most often in the forms of equations.

Unfortunately, as you can see from some of your other answers( capitalctu's and David W's ) , extreme ignorance of basic scientific terms is rampant in the United States. Unfortunately creationists seek to increase that ignorance and to take advantage of it.

Answer 5

There are no absolute truths in science. Science is testable, explanatory, predictive, reproducible BUT always tentative!

The thing about science is that in requires evidence to produce a theory. You can just say "hey, I've got this theory" without involving the methods listed above. The fact that it is tentative means that it cannot be absolute proof.

Now, when we contrast that to religion, there is absolutely no evidence of that. It's completely faith-based meaning it doesn't follow any of the rules of science, and therefore cannot hold weight in any debate based on logic or sound reasoning.

Answer 6

You misunderstand the basic premise of Science. Science tells you what "is" based on what facts are available in relation to the available tools. Using the tools we have before us, Evolution is indeed the most likely explanation, and since higher scientific ideas (like your being able to use this computer to talk to me, and not just go to a church and try to communicate with me through the altar and angels carrying your words) are based on lower theories, once those theories have applicable tools based off them, they become more likely. (still if it's 99.9999999% likely, it's not 100%)

Answer 7

If you're a creationist, you believe that scientists' main goal is to attack belief in God.

Every October 31st we have our annual meeting of the American Association of Atheistic Scientists, in Washington DC, where we secretly convene to discuss how best to eliminate any mention of "God" from the public sphere. The Association's President Eugenie Scott opens the conference with a rousing welcome speech, which she delivers in a skeleton costume, and then introduces the keynote speaker, Satan.

Of course I'm being completely facetious here - but in fact what I just wrote is far closer to what the creationists really believe than is any rational description of the situation.
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Capitalctu (below) writes "I've not yet heard ANY scientist say it was a 'fact' (athiest, creationist, whocares-ist...)".

Well, kid, I'm a scientist, and I say that evolution is a fact.
Done.

Answer 8

Hi....

Why do religious people, believe what they believe, based on only a belief or faith, with absolutely 100% zero facts?

Evolution is a theory, but it is a theory that has a lot of data to back it up!

Do not listen to christian fundamentalists, they are trying to keep a belief system and trying to dominate and produce a World order, based on mans ego, that 'he' is in some way 'attached' personally to a creator of everything.

These beliefs belong in the past, their contents and structure were developed and copied from earlier texts, from earlier civilisations, believing in different gods and have 'no' right to exist in modern mans mentality!!

Science will prevail and humanity 'will' look back at its development and laugh at the old ways of thought, including religion!!

Answer 9

In science, "fact" is spelled out in "Laws". Its not called the "Law of Evolution". I've not yet heard ANY scientist say it was a 'fact' (athiest, creationist, whocares-ist...). Simply put, there are too many variables that cannot be explained well enough to make evolutionary theory into Scientific Law.

Answer 10

Life may have evolved. I don't know why everyone thinks that evolution and God are mutually exclusive. They're not. Why couldn't have God provided whatever was needed to begin the process?
Peace