Pehaps this should be shut down. There are two classes of English-speakers in our society currently: Those who understand the meaning of "theory" in science, and very obviously, those who do not. They are divided by a common language and cannot communicate.
Kansas proves how primitive we are...
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I agree with RTR, and was going to post basically the same opinion, but got distracted and didn't get around to it until now. The definition of a "theory" (hint: it doesn't mean "wild guess") is at square one, and if we can't agree on that, there is little point in having ANOTHER pointless, yet heated, discussion on this topic.
Frankly.......I could care less what the world thinks of us......they don't exactly have our best interests at heart.......
That's why evolution is still called a "theory".....it's taught as "fact" but has never been proven to be true.....
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Harlock said:When I was in school they presented Darwin and prefaced it with this big speech about how it is scientific theory and that the creation of the universe could have come from a higher power alone or how they could both be right. Personally, I don't see what the fuss is about. I think extremists polarized on either end of the spectrum are wrong. Present both sides and allow people to choose how they want based on whatever litmus they would like to use against it. Separation of church and state is one thing, not allowing freedom of choice is another. I guess young people cannot make up their own minds.
Harlock.....what a novel idea !!! Ya think that will ever happen ?? That's exactly where I stand on the subject......give the facts and ideas on both theories and let the individual decide for themselves what they choose to believe.......science is now taking a look at "intelligent design" because they can't explain alot of what they are learning.....and the deeper they dig, the more questions they have.......
I think the issue I have is that science class should really only teach...science. The "theory" of evolution is a theory in the scientific definition meaning that it is based on scientific findings and evidence. Its an explanation based on things we know. Granted, not a law, not hard fact, but as good as we've got.
The "theory" of Intelligent Design, based on what I've read follows more of a dictionary definition like this one I found on dictionary.com:
"An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture."
It seems ID is mostly based in beliefs and much less in a heap of scientific evidence. I certainly wouldn't bash it but at this point, I don't think it has enough scientific clout to consider it a real challenger to the theory of evolution.
I don't think religion should enter into this in the slightest since its about science.
The "theory" of Intelligent Design, based on what I've read follows more of a dictionary definition like this one I found on dictionary.com:
"An assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture."
It seems ID is mostly based in beliefs and much less in a heap of scientific evidence. I certainly wouldn't bash it but at this point, I don't think it has enough scientific clout to consider it a real challenger to the theory of evolution.
I don't think religion should enter into this in the slightest since its about science.
Laws are no more factual than scientific theories are. Theories do not develop into laws, and laws do not start out theories.
A scientific law explains an action or set of actions.
A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers
A hypothesis is more like the layman's usage of the word theory.
"Today, nearly all biologists acknowledge that evolution is a fact. The term theory is no longer appropriate except when referring to the various models that attempt to explain how life evolves... it is important to understand that the current questions about how life evolves in no way implies any disagreement over the fact of evolution.
- Neil A. Campbell, Biology 2nd ed., 1990, Benjamin/Cummings, p. 434"
A scientific law explains an action or set of actions.
A theory is an explanation of a set of related observations or events based upon proven hypotheses and verified multiple times by detached groups of researchers
A hypothesis is more like the layman's usage of the word theory.
"Today, nearly all biologists acknowledge that evolution is a fact. The term theory is no longer appropriate except when referring to the various models that attempt to explain how life evolves... it is important to understand that the current questions about how life evolves in no way implies any disagreement over the fact of evolution.
- Neil A. Campbell, Biology 2nd ed., 1990, Benjamin/Cummings, p. 434"
Perhaps I should have broadened my statement to something more like: There are those who understand the meanings of the word "science" and of the meaning of "theory" as used in that process, and those who do not.
Agreed RTR. And those that don't understand the meanings of those words are often too stubborn to look them up and figure out exactly what they mean. I sure do know a lot of church goers that can understand the difference very easily, so it has little to do with religion.
Emg said:
Everything in science is a theory. Evolution will always be called a theory. That's how science operates. Even the laws of physics are not such...they are constantly having amendments added them. They are always being changed.
What people don't seem to understand is that science never sets out to "prove" anything. It's impossible to prove scientific hypotheses. All science can do is show support for or against a specific hypothesis. The major problem that scientists have with ID is that it is untestable. Simply put, it is not science. That's not an opinion, it's fact as per the definition of science. All aspects of science are testable, with repeatable methods and results. This comes from the basics of the scientific method we all learned the first week of any science class in high school and intro Bio in college.
