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In common usage, "theories" are problematic. If I say that "in theory" something is so, you immediately know that I'm not all that sure. There is question.
Scientists use the word in an entirely different context. A scientific theory is an attempt to describe, as accurately as possible, a body of fact that exists independently of the theory. Keep this firmly in mind: good theories explain reality; poor theories bend reality to fit the theory.
Because, Evolution is not a "fact" it is technically just a theory. A theory, in the scientific community, is much more than the generalized term it has become in every day conversation. While evolution is extremely well supported it isn't necessarily treated as a fact because it cannot be implicitly proven despite the great evidence in it's favor. Furthermore, to explain just how much weight a theory holds I'll list some examples which are common to most people Gravity, is technically just a theory even if you experience it all your life. Germ theory (the idea that pathogens and microbes cause illness in individuals), is technically just a theory even though germs causing disease have been isolated and proven to cause disease in other organisms. Cell theory, which states that all living organisms are made of cells, is technically just a theory even though you can observe these cells under a microscope. The reason that these very well established 'facts' (to use it in a liberal fashion) are called 'theories' in science is because scientific 'theory' has a different meaning from a 'theory' in everyday life, which is more accurately called a hypothesis or a conjecture. A scientific theory is a hypothesis that has held under the pressure of testing by countless scientists with different methods and can explain a natural phenomenon exceedingly well. It is as close to a 'fact' as it gets in the scientific community.
What else can I help you with?
Is evolution a law or theory or a hypothesis?
Answer 1A theory. Just as E=Mc2 is the theory of relativity.Answer 2Evolution is both a fact and a theory, although the fact and the theory of evolution are - at least in my book - two different things:The fact of evolution is the observation that lifeforms evolve over time.The theory of evolution is the model that explains how they evolve, and how that applies to our findings in genetics and palaeontology. The theory of evolution incorporates a number of well-tested hypotheses, laws, and facts.
Evolutionists often make the distinction between evolution as a fact and evolutionary theory What does this mean?
Evolution is descent with modification. Or, change over time. And formally as the change in allele frequencies over time in a population of organisms. This is an observed and a observable fact. The theory is; the theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains the fact of evolution. Natural selection is the main mechanism ( there are others ) that drives the adaptive change in organism that can lead to speciation, or just simple evolution.
Why are Charles Darwins' ideas so important?
He proposed a theory that attempts to explain why and the fact of evolution works.It is, so far, the best and most accurate theory that adequately explains why evolution happens.
What is the central force driving evolution?
Reproductive variation is central to evolution. All else in evolutionary theory follows directly or indirectly from the fact that organisms reproduce with variation.
What theory states that the more recent species are changed descendants or earlier species?
The so called "theory" of evolution, though it has essentially been proven to be a fact.
Is evolution a theory or hypothesis?
Evolution is an observed and observable fact. The theory of evolution by natural selection explains many things about evolution. The theory generates testable hypothesis, as any good theory does. Remember, theory is the highest concept in science.
Is evolution a law or theory or a hypothesis?
Answer 1A theory. Just as E=Mc2 is the theory of relativity.Answer 2Evolution is both a fact and a theory, although the fact and the theory of evolution are - at least in my book - two different things:The fact of evolution is the observation that lifeforms evolve over time.The theory of evolution is the model that explains how they evolve, and how that applies to our findings in genetics and palaeontology. The theory of evolution incorporates a number of well-tested hypotheses, laws, and facts.
Is evolution a fact or theory?
Rather both. Evolution, the change in allele frequency over time in a population of organisms, is an observed and observable fact. The theory of evolution by natural selection explains this fact with overwhelming evidences from many different disciplines.
Responding to someone that states he or she does not believe in biological evolution because it is a theory?
The best way to respond to this is to explain that there is the fact of evolution and the theory of evolution. Evolution is defined as genetic change within a population. This is an easily observable fact both in nature and the laboratory. The theory of evolution is an explanation for the diversity of life on earth based on the observable facts that evolution does indeed occur. It is exactly the same situation with gravity. Gravity is a fact, an easily observed physical phenomenon. But there is also a Theory of Gravitation, an explanation for the phenomenon itself and how it works. That there is a theory for both evolution and gravity does not mean the facts of evolution and gravity are any less true.
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
Is evolution is theory or law?
Evolution is both fact and theory. One could say that there are laws of evolution. One such law could be: that reproductively isolated populations will always diverge genetically.
Evolutionists often make the distinction between evolution as a fact and evolutionary theory What does this mean?
Evolution is descent with modification. Or, change over time. And formally as the change in allele frequencies over time in a population of organisms. This is an observed and a observable fact. The theory is; the theory of evolution by natural selection, which explains the fact of evolution. Natural selection is the main mechanism ( there are others ) that drives the adaptive change in organism that can lead to speciation, or just simple evolution.
How is the idea of evolution a threat to scientific progress?
The idea of evolution is that evolution is a fact and the theory of evolution by natural selection explains much about the fact of evolution. Your question is ill posed. A more modern phrase would say your question is malformed. How could the fact of evolution be a threat to anything? How could the theory that is the backbone of biology not be one of the greatest progressions in science? Much confusion between fact and theory. Theory explains fact and encompasses fact and is a higher scientific concept than fact.
Why is evolution theory not fact?
Evolution is a scientific theory that is supported by overwhelming evidence from various fields such as paleontology, genetics, and microbiology. The term "theory" in science does not mean a guess, but rather a well-substantiated explanation based on evidence. While evolution is widely accepted among scientists, it is not considered a fact in the same way as established scientific laws because theories are subject to modification based on new evidence.
How many evolutionist are there?
All educated people accept evolution and the theory that explains it. " Evolutionist " is a term not used among biologists. Even if there were no " evolutionists " evolution would still be an observed and observable fact and the theory of evolution by natural selection would still be the best explanation for much of the fact of evolution.
Is evolution merely a theory?
"Theory" means something much different in the world of science than it does in everyday use. Evolution is an observed fact. The theory around it is just our current understanding of the specific mechanics of it.
One reason why evolution is true?
Because it is a fact that allele frequencies change over time in populations of organisms. And the theory of evolution by natural selection explains much of the fact of evolution very well.
