Evolution folks: Where is the paper?

Question

Where is the technical paper, published, peer reviewed, acknowledged by the NSF as correct, that says Evolution can now be declared a Fact? Meaning we can drop the "theory" from the label. Please provide the reference so I can read it for myself.

In engineering graduate school 19 years ago, Evolution was still a theory...the best theory around, but educated people were still smart enough to keep the label Theory.

Today, in Yahoo Answers, everyone keeps telling me it is a fact. They insult my intellect. Accuse me of being all kinds of negative things. So, prove me wrong. Put up or shut up.

Where is the paper that determined Evolution is a fact?

p.s. I am very pro-science and FOR the continued, extensive research into the Theory of Evolution. It is the only way we'll get to the bottom of this.

And for the real geeks, I've had as many as five servers runningat one time, in my basement processing SETI packets. Knowledge and science are a great thing.

This is R&S because dozens of "expert atheists" are the loudest ones shouting, "Evolution is a fact." So again, were is the declaration Evolution is a Fact.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less."

Science trying to blur the definitions to where the word theory actually means fact, is nonsensicle. You think you "win" by changing the definition of a word? Interesting approach. At least Alice had the sense not to fall for it. Neither do I.

Answer 1

still a theory as far I know, a pretty good one though.

Answer 2

The idea that something can change from a theory to a fact is absurd. The difference isn't one of certainty, theories and facts are simply different things. Evolution is a fact in that it can be directly observed that genetic changes occur between generations, and genetic changes between generations are called evolution. In that sense evolution is a fact.
Evolution by natural selection as an explanation for complex life is a theory, and will always be called a theory no matter how much more data we might find to support it. A theory can never fit the scientific definition of a fact, they're two different things.

Answer 3

Evolution is a documented fact. Thinks have been seen to change in the lab. adn in a natural environment.

It is also a theory. The theory tries to explain the reasons behind the observed facts and make useful predictions.


Have you heard of the theory of gravitation? There is one. Are you saying that gravity is not also a fact?


For examples of observed evolution:

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/faq-speciation.html

Feel free to go get copies of the referenced papers.


I'm sorry that you feel others are insulting your intellect. However you may want to dwell on the fact that you have done much more damage to your reputation by posting this question before doing some basic research than any perceived insult.

Answer 4

first of all you need to understand the words fact and theory:
A "fact" in science is an observation. A "theory" in science is a testable and logic explanation of the observations.

Gould, S.J. (2002). The Structure of Evolutionary Theory. Cambridge: Belknap Press (Harvard University Press). ISBN 0-674-00613-5.

Futuyma, D.J. (2005). Evolution. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates. ISBN 0-878-93187-2.

Mayr, E. (2001). What Evolution Is. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-04426-3.

Coyne, J.A. and Orr, H.A. (2004). Speciation. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates. ISBN 0-878-93089-2.

Maynard Smith, J. and Szathmáry, E. (1997). The Major Transitions in Evolution. Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-198-50294-X.

Barton, N.H., Briggs, D.E.G., Eisen, J.A., Goldstein, D.B. and Patel, N.H. (2007). Evolution. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. ISBN 0-879-69684-2.

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/search/topicbrowse2.php?topic_id=46

Answer 5

You are referring to theory and fact as scientific terminolgy; In which case no matter how much evidence is supplied, evolution will always be a theory. It cannot be proven without a doubt. Therefore cannot be upgraded to being a law or fact.

There are many theories that are taken for facts ie. Theory of Relativity. See the definiton for Theory ie.: a set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

The only methods by which one could argue evolution as being factual would be to either go back in time and witness earlier stages of evolution, or to merely observe evolution over time. Therefore it remains a theory. So I wouldn't expect to be seeing the theory of evolution as a scientific fact for another 10,000+ years or so... enough time for us to witness other species during a state of evolution...

It is doubtful whether humanity will last that long...

Answer 6

Evolution is both a theory and a fact. There are two definitions of the word. But you should know that theory is the highest order in science. If evolution was to ever not be a theory, it would be a victory for the creationists.

Also, evolution isn't the best theory, it is the only theory.

And if you were pro-science, you wouldn't use the term "still a theory". You would know that a theory is the highest order in science. There is no up from theory.

Answer 7

There isn't a single paper that goes against the idea, and there isn't a competing scientific explanation. On the other hand there are thousands of papers that support it. No one would even bother to submit a paper with the sole purpose of backing evolution at this point because it wouldn't be interesting enough to be worth publication.

When it gets to the point there is no scientific debate anymore, you can take it as fact.

---And good deal with the SETI thing. I've been running them since 1999.

Answer 8

The process of evolution is observed fact. The theory of evolution explains that fact. When people say "evolution", many think they are speaking of the theory of evolution when, in fact, they are speaking of the actual process. It's all semantics, but it's important to distinguish when you're discussing it.

Answer 9

gravity is still labelled a "theory" but it's very much a fact

People who ask science questions in R & S are deceitful cowards

Athony: the scientific definition of the word theory has never changed. You just never realised you were wrong.

Answer 10

I agree with your very last sentence:Knowledge and science are indeed a great thing.

If we insult your intellect by pointing out facts then you had better run of to church pretty quick to hear some more theories in the non-scientific meaning of the word.

Answer 11

You need a little education regarding the meaning of the word 'theory'. You are using it as though it is equivalent to the word 'hypothesis', which it is definitely not. Follow the link.

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolution-fact.html