RE: [asa] Is evolution a fact? (Dawkins style)

-----Original Message-----
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
Behalf Of Dehler, Bernie
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 11:18 AM
To: ASA
Subject: RE: [asa] Is evolution a fact? (Dawkins style)

  When I first asked “Is evolution a fact,” by “evolution” I meant the
evolution of everything- from the big bang, to elements, to planets, to
animals, to people.

  After reading responses, I guess some people think of “evolution” as only
“biological evolution,” maybe not even involving origin of life issues.

  I’m pretty sure Dawkins says things like “evolution is a fact” and I
assumed he was referring to total evolution, from big bang to humans.

  My main question is really “Would you agree with Dawkins that evolution is
a fact” and that would imply the definition of ‘evolution’ as Dawkins uses
it, whatever that is. I think Dawkins usually refers to ‘complete evolution
’ (big bang to humans), not just ‘biological evolution,’ when referring to ’
evolution.’

  As far as comparing gaps in evolution with gaps in gravity, with
considering evolution and gravity as facts: I thought that was an
interesting point.

  And when I say “fact” I’m referring to a true fact, not what we think is a
fact today and may later get changed (as in geocentricity vs.
heliocentricity ‘facts’).

  ,,,Bernie

These hugely expanded definitions of evolution are common in layman's terms,
as well as in creation-speak. The first time i heard of a Grand Theory of
Evolution was by creationists, encompassing everything from the BB to now. I
suppose that term was coined to give it some air of credibility or status.
In the scientific circles, "biological evolution" is redundant. As a
geologist, evolution as a stand alone term, by default is biological. We
don't speak in terms of geologic evolution, we have other words,
geomorphology, orogenics, tectonics, etc. Fact's in science are the
observations. A "fact" in science is not "truth" per se, but rather an
observation. Facts in science are not beyond a shadow of doubt, but rather
beyond reasonable doubt, with consent always being provisional. Laws are
derived from those observations that are so regular and predictable that
they can be expressed as mathematical equations. YOu can see why people talk
past each other, assuming other people use these words the same way.

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Received on Wed May 28 13:29:15 2008