| ninty |
11-20-2005 09:08 PM |
[quote:209ea]As used by many people, "theory" means "hypothesis", therefore a guess that can be disregarded. But "theory" in science actually refers to any coherent, organized body of ideas. The structural integrity of the Sears Tower was calculated using "stress theory" but nobody believes the Sears Tower was built using guesswork or unproven hypotheses. The portion of music training that describes notation, chords, and harmony is called "theory" although its basic ideas have been highly refined and workable since before Bach.[/quote:209ea]
[quote:209ea]The theory of evolution is much more than just a "theory." The word "theory" in normal usage means a guess or a hunch. But in science, a "theory" is a belief that has been verified by actual experimentation and/or observation.
Most biologists believe that evolution is more than a theory; it is an established fact. The earth's life forms have evolved over billions of years. Species of animals have been recently observed as continuing to evolve, both in the lab and field.
There remains debate about some details of past evolution. For example, there is a consensus that dinosaurs evolved and that birds evolved; there is some debate as to whether dinosaurs were the distant ancestors of birds.
[/quote:209ea]
[quote:209ea]Words in English often have multiple meanings. Words about origins are no exception.
bullet "In the American vernacular, 'theory' often means 'imperfect fact' —part of a hierarchy of confidence running downhill from fact to theory to hypothesis to guess." 1
bullet "A theory is defined as a 'speculative idea,' 'a formulation of apparent relationships or underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been verified to some degree,' or popularly, 'a mere conjecture'." 8
bullet In the television programs NYPD Blue, or Law and Order, a "theory" typically means a hunch by one of the detectives. It may or may not pan out.
However, in science, a "theory" is a belief that has been verified by actual experimentation and/or observation.
There are many levels of scientific theories. Some, particularly new and emerging theories may be based on little evidence. Others, like the existence of evolution, the laws governing electricity, Newton's laws of motion, genetics etc., are supported by so much evidence from such a wide range of sciences that they are very firmly held beliefs. They have existed for many decades, or even centuries. Some, like the theory of evolution, have been relied upon by generations of physicists, geneticists, cosmologists, biologists, geologists, etc. They are accepted as true facts by essentially all scientists.[/quote:209ea]
To quote the great Carl Sagan:
“Evolution is a fact, not a theory; it really happened”
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