Re: [asa] Is evolution a fact?

Some use "evolution is a fact" to imply that descent from a common ancestor is a fact. In other words, they imply that the theory of evolution is in that respect absolutely true. Those who do so are going beyond the bounds of what science allows. No theory is true, but one may claim that a theory provides a very good explanation of data and that it may be regarded as true for practical purposes. Example: Newton's theory of gravitation.

Don

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: George Cooper<mailto:georgecooper@sbcglobal.net>
  To: asa@calvin.edu<mailto:asa@calvin.edu>
  Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 2:06 PM
  Subject: RE: [asa] Is evolution a fact?

  I agree with your view, but would add that some use the "Evolution is a
  fact" phrase as almost a mantra for their cause against those who doubt
  evolution. Certain bloggers arouse their reader's emotions by using this
  statement of "fact". :)

  GeorgeA Cooper

  -----Original Message-----
  From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu<mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu> [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On
  Behalf Of David Campbell
  Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 4:11 PM
  To: asa
  Subject: Re: [asa] Is evolution a fact?

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

  Actually, "natural history" encompasses pretty much all aspects of
  science relating to the natural world. However, one could distinguish
  between the history of life, which shows that the types of organisms
  change over time (paleontological data, observations of living
  populations, etc.) and the various theories of evolution that seek to
  explain this observed pattern. The former is more or less equivalent
  to the "fact" of evolution as I see the term used.

  --
  Dr. David Campbell
  425 Scientific Collections
  University of Alabama
  "I think of my happy condition, surrounded by acres of clams"

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Received on Sat May 31 00:51:23 2008