Re: [asa] Is evolution a fact?

Gregory asks whether one can substitute "the fact of natural history" for "the fact of evolution" without changing meaning. The answer is NO. The fact of evolution and natural history are only partially intersecting sets. For one thing, the fact of evolution includes studies of recent changes in organisms that have led to new species. Many biologists would also include results of comparative studies of chromosomes and DNA.

Natural history is more general than evolution, as it includes such subjects as historical geology, aspects of which may be unrelated to evolution.

Don

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Gregory Arago<mailto:gregoryarago@yahoo.ca>
  To: Don Winterstein<mailto:dfwinterstein@msn.com> ; asa<mailto:asa@calvin.edu> ; George Cooper<mailto:georgecooper@sbcglobal.net>
  Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 6:45 AM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Is evolution a fact?

  Any change of meaning in the following?

  "A theory by definition cannot be a fact. Evolution is both a theory and a fact; but the theory of evolution is not the same as the fact of natural history, although the theory [of evolution] leans on the fact [of natural history].

  The fact of natural history is abundantly and most compellingly evident in the fossil record: Fossils clearly indicate that organisms 500 million years ago were quite unlike organisms 100 million years ago which in turn were quite unlike organisms existing today. These changes in organisms are facts of natural history and taken together make natural history a fact."

  A. Moorad is smiling! ;-)

  Don Winterstein <dfwinterstein@msn.com> wrote:
    A theory by definition cannot be a fact. Evolution is both a theory and a fact; but the theory of evolution is not the same as the fact of evolution, although the theory leans on the fact.

    The fact of evolution is abundantly and most compellingly evident in the fossil record: Fossils clearly indicate that organisms 500 million years ago were quite unlike organisms 100 million years ago which in turn were quite unlike organisms existing today. These changes in organisms are facts of evolution and taken together make evolution a fact.

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Received on Thu May 29 02:06:54 2008