Presenting 'the scientific theory of' evolution

[Lugnut]

Do ya'll know the difference betwen "Hypothesis'", "laws", and "Theorys"???

"just a theory"

[Radiant1 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Do ya'll know the difference betwen "Hypothesis'", "laws", and "Theorys"???

"just a theory"

Is Darwinian evolution scientific law? If not, then "it's just a theory" is appropriate, as it may still be disproved.

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by Radiant1

Is Darwinian evolution scientific law? If not, then "it's just a theory" is appropriate, as it may still be disproved.

Thank you for illustrating my point.

[Radiant1 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Thank you for illustrating my point.

YW!

'Splain please.

[tommyjones]

Originally Posted by Radiant1

YW!

'Splain please.

no wonder ya have trouble following the theory of evolution.....

[Lugnut]

Here's a decent description of the relationship between law and theory with examples.


Theory, Law, Fact and the Scientific Method

[Bustem' Down]

I wouldn't have a problem with Intellegent design being taught if it were taught as a theory like evolution is, but that's not what they want. I know evolution is a theory, it's unproven, but the prospects look good and it's based on sound scientific study and testing, so I think that's what happened. If Intelligent design were taught the same waythat's fine, but everyone seems to want it taught as "That evolution this is a theory, here's what really happened".

There is a very important place in study and Academics for Creationism/Intelligent Design. Every single culture/religion/race/etc. has a creation story, and to understand people, to understand other cultures both past and present, you have to understand where they come from.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

Do ya'll know the difference betwen "Hypothesis'", "laws", and "Theorys"???

"just a theory"

Yes, I do: (definitions edited for relevance)


the•o•ry [thee-uh-ree, theer-ee]
–noun
1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.
2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.
4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.
5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles.
6. contemplation or speculation.
7. guess or conjecture.


hy•poth•e•sis [hahy-poth-uh-sis, hi-]
–noun
1. a proposition, or set of propositions, set forth as an explanation for the occurrence of some specified group of phenomena, either asserted merely as a provisional conjecture to guide investigation (working hypothesis) or accepted as highly probable in the light of established facts.
2. a proposition assumed as a premise in an argument.
4. a mere assumption or guess

law [law]
–noun
4. a system or collection of rules.
5. the department of knowledge concerned with these rules; jurisprudence: to study law.
6. the body of such rules concerned with a particular subject or derived from a particular source: commercial law.
12. any rule or injunction that must be obeyed: Having a nourishing breakfast was an absolute law in our household.
15. (in philosophy, science, etc.)
a. a statement of a relation or sequence of phenomena invariable under the same conditions.
b. a mathematical rule.
16. a principle based on the predictable consequences of an act, condition, etc.: the law of supply and demand.
17. a rule, principle, or convention regarded as governing the structure or the relationship of an element in the structure of something, as of a language or work of art: the laws of playwriting; the laws of grammar.




So, Intelligent Design and Evolution are both theories, or, speculation/conjecture.

Point?

[Lugnut]

Originally Posted by This_person

Yes, I do: (definitions edited for relevance)
So, Intelligent Design and Evolution are both theories, or, speculation/conjecture.

Point?

They're both "theory" if you change the context of the word "theory" for each of them.

See the link I posted above.

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Lugnut

They're both "theory" if you change the context of the word "theory" for each of them.

See the link I posted above.

Originally Posted by From the link

A hypothesis is indeed an idea requiring further research. When sufficiently confirmed, a hypothesis may become a theory, a law, or a fact...

A scientific theory is an integrated conceptual framework for reasoning about a class of phenomena, which is able to coordinate existing facts and laws and sometimes provide predictions of new ones.

The word "Evolution" is sometimes used to refer to the combination of the fact of evolution, the two above mentioned theories and the hypothesis that all life on Earth has evolved from a common ancestor. While this last component is labeled a hypothesis, it is so well confirmed it might almost be called a fact. In either usage, Evolution is essential to modern biology. It has been said that nothing in biology makes sense except in light of Evolution.

I see what you're saying here. In one context (where a theory is a theory is a theory), there's objectivity. In the other context (where a theory is considered "almost a fact"), anything against one theory is just plain wrong.