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Because it cannot be proven or replicated.

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In science, a hypothesis is a good idea, a possible explanation, which might be right and might be wrong. Hypotheses can be refuted by experimentation. If the expectation from the hypothesis is not met by the outcome of experiment, the hypothesis is refuted. The longer a hypothesis survives unrefuted the more confidence we have in it. Evidence can support a hypothesis. The more evidence one has in support of a hypothesis, the more grows our confidence in it. Within the philosophy of science of Karl Popper, a hypothesis cannot be proven, but one can have a mighty amount of confidence in one, proportional to the amount of evidence in support of it. Unrefuted and with backing evidence, a hypothesis is promoted to a theory! A theory is better than a hypothesis. Evolution has much evidence from comparative genetics, comparative morphology and the fossil record. Evolution was once a hypothesis. Darwin collected a large mass of evidence for On the Origin of Species and now we have evidence from Mendelian genetics and comparative genetics, which Darwin knew nothing of. We now have a greater fossil record than Darwin did. There is far more evidence these days (for what is now called Neodarwinism or the Modern Synthesis- the combination of genetics and Darwin's basic 1859 ideas) than there was in Darwin's time. Evolution now has so much evidence that it is best to call it a theory, rather than a hypothesis. Yes, theories are unproven, but in Popperian philosophy of science they cannot be proven. Theories survive refutation and have much evidence and explain a lot. Biology regards evolution as its baseline, its most important idea ever. It might only be a theory of which we can only be 99% confident, but it explains everything so well that most biologists should better call it a fact rather than a theory. Evolution is such a good theory that its pedantic differentiation from 'fact' is entirely unnecessary.

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Q: Why do scientists call evolution a theory?
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Related questions

What do scientists think about the theory of evolution?

The overwhelming majority of scientists accept the theory of evolution by natural selection. Any scientists that do not accept the theory usually do so for religious reasons.


What did Darwin call his theory?

theory of evolution


When was the darninim theory of evolution accepted?

The theory of evolution was accepted by scientists in 1859, Darwin's first book was published the same year that his theory was accepted.


How might the theory of evolution be used by scientists in their studies?

to explain the relationship


Who is the most famous of the scientists who developed the theory of evolution?

Evolution is a fact, not a theory. There are theories as to how the process of evolution works. The most notable is through natural selection proposed by Darwin and Wallace


Charles Darwin developed the theory of what?

He developed the theory of evolution, or more properly the mechanism of evolution, which we call natural selection.


What are some problems in the theory of evolution?

There aren't any problems in evolutionary theory. However, there are enough unanswered question remaining in evolution to keep scientists busy for centuries to come.


Has Lamarck's theory of evolution been proved?

Scientists do not prove things. Lamarck's theory is long refuted as acquired characteristics and the use and disuse concepts are not explanations for evolution of populations.


Who developed a theory of evolution by natural selection that is accepted by most scientists today?

Charles Robert Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace first purposed the theory of evolution by natural selection, but the theory accepted by most scientists today has been modified a bit since Darwin and Wallace's day.


Who were the 2 main scientists that created the evolution theory?

Actually there are three: Darwin, Mendel and Wallace.


Who gave the theory of evolution?

There is no " theory of evolution " as evolution is a fact. The theory is; the theory of evolution by natural selection and explains much about the fact of evolution. Charles Robert Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace come up with the theory of evolution by natural selection, though natural selection is a phrase coined by Darwin.


What do scientists generally say about evolution?

99.9% of all scientists accept evolutionary theory. A great majority of biologists, at least, find it useful.