Re: Student perceptions re evolution

From: Jay Willingham (jaywillingham@cfl.rr.com)
Date: Mon Aug 25 2003 - 14:13:05 EDT

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    I stand corrected regarding the identity of theory and fact. However in his
    definition quoted below, he did say evolution was a fact as well as a
    theory.

    Before I contest that issue, I should wait for a consensus definition of
    "evolution" from the group.

    Gould quote:

    "Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are
    different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts
    are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and
    interpret facts. Facts do not go away when scientists debate rival theories
    to explain them."

    Jay

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Stephen J. Krogh, P.G." <panterragroup@mindspring.com>
    To: "ASA" <asa@calvin.edu>
    Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 9:28 PM
    Subject: RE: Student perceptions re evolution

    > No he didn't, you read it wrong.
    >
    >
    > =========================================
    >
    > > -----Original Message-----
    > > From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
    > > Behalf Of Jay Willingham
    > > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 6:37 PM
    > > To: ASA
    > > Subject: Re: Student perceptions re evolution
    > >
    > >
    > > Yes, as I thought, Gould treats theory as fact.
    > >
    > > If so, to my mind evolution is clearly not a theory but a hypothesis.
    > >
    > > Jay
    > >
    > >
    > > ----- Original Message -----
    > > From: "Stephen J. Krogh, P.G." <panterragroup@mindspring.com>
    > > To: <asa@calvin.edu>
    > > Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 3:23 PM
    > > Subject: FW: Student perceptions re evolution
    > >
    > >
    > > >
    > > > -----Original Message-----
    > > > From: Stephen J. Krogh, P.G. [mailto:panterragroup@mindspring.com]
    > > > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 3:39 PM
    > > > To: Asa-Owner@Lists. Calvin. Edu
    > > > Subject: RE: Student perceptions re evolution
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > > -----Original Message-----
    > > > > From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
    > > [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
    > > > > Behalf Of Jay Willingham
    > > > > Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 11:09 AM
    > > > > To: ASA
    > > > > Subject: Re: Student perceptions re evolution
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > Excellent idea.
    > > > >
    > > > > Here's some ramblings to start off...
    > > > >
    > > > > Perhaps there is a fact proof continuum, with proof of absolute
    > > > > fact at one
    > > > > end and proof of clear falsehood at the other, with theory and
    > > > hypothesis
    > > > > lying in between.
    > > >
    > > > Oh my, I see a problem right there. You do realize that this is
    > > > not how these terms are used in science, right?
    > > >
    > > > http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/gould_fact-and-theory.html
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    >

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