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The Theory of Evolution – What a scientific theory actually means
Posted on February 27th, 2009
6 comments
I have had to deal with so many christians lately with the standard reply that ‘evolution is just a theory’, and that there is another theory, that of ‘Intelligent Design’.
I thought I would break down what a scientific theory actually means to try and make it as small a possible explanation, for those christians hard of hearing, and are totally ignoring what ‘theory’ means in science.
The ‘Theory of Evolution’ is different to the ‘Fact of Evolution’. Evolution is a fact, however in science, theory means something, it does not mean the whole concept is still in dispute, evolution is fact, it is talking about the mechanism. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts do not go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them.
Commonly ‘fact’ is used to refer to the observable changes in organisms’ traits over generations, evolution is PROVEN FACT. It occurs.
The word ‘theory’ is reserved for the mechanisms that cause these changes, that part is the Theory of Evolution.
Now to understand what theory means in science. In science, a current theory is a theory that has no equally acceptable or more acceptable alternative theory, and has survived attempts at falsification. That is, there have been no observations made which contradict it to this point and, indeed, every observation ever made either supports the current theory or at least does not falsify it by contradicting it completely. A revision of the current theory, or the generation of a new theory is necessary if new observations contradict the current theory, as the current findings are in need of a new explanation. However, the falsification of a theory does not falsify the facts on which the theory is based.
Evolution is FACT, the Theory of Evolution is the accepted idea of Darwin’s, as well as 2 others built up since the discovery of DNA by various scientists, over WHY evolution is fact. Darwin just started a whole CHAIN of ideas since his initial discovery, that build the Theory of Evolution.
The three main mechanisms that produce evolution in the theory, are natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Natural selection favors genes that improve capacity for survival and reproduction. Genetic drift is random change in the frequency of alleles, caused by the random sampling of a generation’s genes during reproduction. Gene flow is the transfer of genes within and between populations.
geddit?
How is Intelligent Design a fact? What is the theory, that has no contradictions, that explains it?
Intelligent Design is not a fact, it is not a theory. It’s a BELIEF.
christians, darwin, Evolution, ignorance, intelligent design, stupidity christians, ignorance, moronic stupidity, stupiditysite-map6 responses to to “The Theory of Evolution – What a scientific theory actually means”
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“The three main mechanisms that produce evolution in the theory, are natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Natural selection favors genes that improve capacity for survival and reproduction. Genetic drift is random change in the frequency of alleles, caused by the random sampling of a generation’s genes during reproduction. Gene flow is the transfer of genes within and between populations.”
While accurate, the above explanation of what the mechanisms of evolution are is not very illuminating for non-biologists.
May I suggest: “The three main mechanisms that produce evolution in the theory, are natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Natural selection favors genes that improve capacity for survival and reproduction (ie. organisms with certain genes that give them a survival advantage under current conditions will tend to do better than those that do not [see here for a clear example of how this works]). Genetic drift is random change in the frequency of alleles, caused by the random sampling of a generation’s genes during reproduction (ie. environmental factors may cause mutations and rearrangement of alleles which sometimes leads to a survival advantage). Gene flow is the transfer of genes within and between populations (ie. primarily by sexual reproduction).”
For “Intelligent Design” to be a contender as a theory it needs to explain how God creates variety in nature, what the mechanisms are and to show some evidence. Hence some christians have tried to incorporate evolution into their beliefs about God by premising all the mechanism described by scientists as God’s doing. Scientific method then can be claimed except for the little problem of a supernatural and unprovable premise…
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oops, the link for the peppered moth example is:
http://www.experiment-resources.com/industrial-melanism.htmlThe peppered moth is a well known and oft quoted example that enables people to easily understand the mechanisms of evolution. For this reason many christiam apolgists for ID have attacked it.
However, it stands strong and is still observed in action today.
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Gee Suss June 4th, 2009 at 15:56
Thanks for the wording!
Intelligent Design will never be a contender to a scientific theory, the only way it can, is to drop premise and use facts to substantiate claims, and with faith, by definition, it can’t.
ID/creation theory is a load of crock, it’s not a theory, it’s religion rebadged, trying to gain the substantial credibility science has, by using the same terminology, without the same peer review, facts, reason and logic.
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haha! yes, i agree. i was being just a little bit facetious in that final paragraph.
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Papa Warren September 23rd, 2009 at 17:04
MMMm – Science is all about interpreting the facts. If by saying Evolution is a fact you mean there are facts to support evolution then you are correct. If you mean that the interpretation known as Darwin’s Theory of the Origin of the Species- then I rise to say you are incorrect. Darwin’s Theory is an interpetation based upon material collected on journeys of discovery.
In science a theory becomes fact when all avenue of possibility are eliminated and the theory is proved beyond any doubt.
There still exists, within the scienticfic commmunity, much debate over Darwin’s, and others, interpetation of the factual nmaterial before them – there are serveral theories of the origin of the species.The Bible is not a scientific text book and it is dangerous to use it as such – as a christian i also rise to say that i have doubts over the literal 7 Days. I have no doubt whatsoever that God is the Creator, Owner and the one to who we are ultimately responsible for hoe we conduct ourselves on His planet – and that is fact.
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Gee Suss September 23rd, 2009 at 19:59
Papa Warren, you don’t seem to have read the article properly.
Evolution is a fact, Darwins Theory of Evolution is an explanation of why that fact occurs.
Darwins theory is not an interpretation, it is a scientific Theory (look at what a Theory in science means!) which all evidence to date does not only support, but not one thing has even contradicted, and the evidence is mounting MASSIVELY.
Can you name one scientific theory that has become fact? Or are you just making up your own concept of science?
What about The Theory of Gravity? Because it is the Theory, do you think there is dispute in scientific circles as to gravity existing?
There are not several theories over the origin of the species. Please provide another that has evidence and is falsifiable, that is sustained via the scientific method. All you have is conjecture based on your personal faith only. No evidence whatsoever.
I am not using the bible as a scientific text book, it’s a book of fables as far as I am concerned.
It may be fact you believe there is a creator, but there is no evidence whatsoever as to their being one.
Show us the evidence you claim is fact and exists.
Show us the evidence for a young earth, and the ‘fact’ of creation as an alternative Theory to the evolution of humans from a common ancestor to other life.
Explain why we have mountains of evidence that contradict the creationists claims, why the mass of evidence in radioactivity, tree rings, ice cores, corals, supernovas – from astronomy, biology, physics, geology, chemistry and archeology all combine and go against your faiths concepts.
Otherwise your wordplay is just what it shows itself to be, empty, hollow, shallow, stupid, faith, and a total misunderstanding and ignorance of what in fact you are trying to argue against.
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