Re: What if?

Moorad wrote:

"Evolution is not an experimental science. Is it? ...."

It is. It allows many predictions. One of the most powerful: Fossils in a bed of a given geologic age will be the same many miles away in a bed of the same age, provided the depositional environment was similar. This prediction has been substantiated innumerable times, and its validity has been widely used for dating sedimentary layers. Also, the kind of prediction Charles Carrigan suggests below has been substantiated many times, usually in somewhat more complicated situations.

Don

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Charles Carrigan<mailto:CCarriga@olivet.edu>
  To: asa@calvin.edu<mailto:asa@calvin.edu> ; alexanian@uncw.edu<mailto:alexanian@uncw.edu>
  Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 8:05 AM
  Subject: RE: What if?

  Suppose there are three stratigraphic layers A,B, and C, in chronological order, with A the lowest in the pile and the oldest in age. There are no significant breaks in the pile that would suggest long periods of time in between them. Suppose we find a fossil animal in layer A, and a somewhat different one (but yet clearly related) fossil in C. Evolution predicts that there would be an intermediate fossil in layer B, if preserved. That prediction could be tested, could it not?

  of course this is a simplification, and there are all kinds of "what if's" and possible exceptions, but this is a definite real possible test of evolutionary theory. Researchers use this kind of logic all the time when they want to find the newest, latest, and greatest transitional form and publish a paper in Science or Nature.

  best,
  Charles

  <><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><<><
  Charles W. Carrigan
  Olivet Nazarene University
  Dept. of Geology
  One University Ave.
  Bourbonnais, IL 60914
  PH: (815) 939-5346
  FX: (815) 939-5071

>>> "Alexanian, Moorad" <alexanian@uncw.edu> 12/7/2004 4:48:37 PM >>>

  Evolution is not an experimental science. Is it? It uses science in the same way that forensic science uses experimental science. Evolution deals with unique, historical events--just like cosmology. Where is the nonsense in what I have said. It is your comment that is nonsensical!

  Moorad

  ________________________________

  From: Michael Roberts [mailto:michael.andrea.r@ukonline.co.uk]<mailto:michael.andrea.r@ukonlineco.uk]>
  Sent: Tue 12/7/2004 4:15 PM
  To: Alexanian, Moorad; Either Carol or John Burgeson; asa@calvin.edu
  Subject: Re: What if?

  Nonsense Moorad
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Alexanian, Moorad" <alexanian@uncw.edu>
  To: "Either Carol or John Burgeson" <burgytwo@juno.com>; <asa@calvin.edu>
  Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 8:38 PM
  Subject: RE: What if?

> Burgy you pose the wrong question. Evolution is not on equal footing with
  every scientific theory. In fact, the only scientific theory that would be
  similarly in question would be cosmology. Certainly evolution is not a
  scientific theory as such theories in the experimental sciences, physics,
  chemistry, etc.
>
> Moorad
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu on behalf of Either Carol or John
  Burgeson
> Sent: Tue 12/7/2004 1:37 PM
> To: asa@calvin.edu
> Subject: What if?
>
>
>
> What would be the end-product of American public schools if
> we allow every scientific theory to be questioned as evolution is
> questioned??
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/12/05/opinion/06purr.html<http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2004/12/05/opinion/06purr.html>
>
> Burgy
>
>
>
>
Received on Wed Dec 8 12:57:43 2004