From: Stephen J. Krogh, P.G. (panterragroup@mindspring.com)
Date: Mon Aug 25 2003 - 17:26:29 EDT
Well, no, not quite. I know you are really trying hard to understand this,
it may just be my poor communication skills. The link that I provided
explained how Evolution is both fact AND Theory, even the link stated that
fact and Theory were not the same thing. Also see the link I provided
earlier for definitions of evolution.
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolution-definition.html The Theory of
Evolution explains the facts (observations) of evolution in a population as
it changes from one generation to the next. The "competing" aspect of
various Theories you think you are seeing are not necessarily competing but
rather complimentary. Where one mechanism doesn't fully explain what is
observed in some instances, other mechanisms can be proposed, but it is
still observation-driven. Then the Theory can then be used to make
predictions of what should be expected in future observations, that is a way
it can be tested.
Stephen J. Krogh, P.G.
http://panterragroup.home.mindspring.com/
=========================================
> -----Original Message-----
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
> Behalf Of Jay Willingham
> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 3:41 PM
> To: ASA
> Subject: Re: Student perceptions re evolution
>
>
> Then evolution is not a fact but a competing explanation of facts.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Stephen J. Krogh, P.G." <panterragroup@mindspring.com>
> To: <asa@calvin.edu>
> Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 3:32 PM
> 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: Monday, August 25, 2003 1:13 PM
> > > To: ASA
> > > Subject: Re: Student perceptions re evolution
> > >
> > >
> > > 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.
> >
> > While evolution is both a fact and a theory, fact does not equal theory.
> > Similarly, my sister is a wife, a mother, as well as an accountant.
> However,
> > wife mother, sister and an accountant are not the same thing.
> >
> >
> > > 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
> >
> > IOW, facts "in science", are the observations. Theories explain the
> > observation. As Gould states, they are completely different
> animals, so to
> > speak. Gravity is also both a theory and fact. Theories of Gravity have
> been
> > employed to explain the known observations (facts) of Gravity. When new
> > observations (facts) are observed, the explanation (theory) must be
> modified
> > to account for the new observation. The Theories are fact
> driven, not the
> > other way around.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
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