Scientists use many specialized terms, frequently incorporating terminology that may have different meanings to the lay-person. In defining "fact" and "theory", scientists ascribe to them very distinct meanings:
Carefully examining these two descriptions of the words "fact" and "theory" in a scientific context, reveals a source of confusion when discussing gravity. Gravity is referred to as both a "fact" and a "theory". Gravity is a "fact" because it has been observed, and observations are "facts" in scientific language. Gravity is also the name of the explanation for this "fact" and other evidence, or "facts". And scientific explanations are called "theories" in the language of science. So gravity is also a "theory", as well as a "fact".
The word "gravity" has been assigned to two different things, a "theory" and a "fact". It might appear confusing and disenguous to refer to gravity as both a "theory" and a "fact", but it is accurate. Gravity is an observable "fact". How and why gravity exerts its force onto objects is the subject of a Theory of Gravity. A Theory of Gravity is subject to rigorous scientific study, and it may change. It is common to refer to the most widely accepted "theory" of gravity as The Theory of Gravity, although of course it is just one of several. The validity of the statement that gravity exists remains unchanged, no matter what "theory" is most widely accepted, or even if no "theory" exists at that moment.
"Fact" and "theory" can be applied to evolution, just as it is to gravity. [3] This terminology has been used to dispute the validity of Evolution, which results from a misunderstanding of how those terms are applied to Evolution.
In the study of biological species, the "facts" include fossils and measurements of these fossils. The location of a fossil is an example of a "fact" (using the scientific meaning of the word "fact"). The age of particular fossils is also a fact. In species that rapidly reproduce, for example fruit flies, the process of evolutionary change has been observed in the laboratory. The observation of fruit fly populations changing character is also an example of a "fact", using the scientific meaning of the word "fact". So evolution is a "fact", at least using the scientific meaning of the word "fact". These "facts" need an explanation, just like the observations of gravity did.
In biology, there have been many attempts to explain these observations over the years. Lamarckism, Transmutationism and Orthogenesis are all nonDarwinian "theories" (in the scientific sense of the word "theory") that attempt to explain the observations of species and fossils and other evidence. However, the explanation for all these data or "facts" that is currently most accepted by scientists is called the Theory of Evolution. The "theory" of evolution is a model that explains the vast majority of the data, or evidence, that exist. So evolution is not only a "fact" but a "theory", just as gravity is both a "fact" and a "theory". [4]
This confusion between "fact" and "theory" in the study of evolution was explored in a well-known quote by paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould:
These are some experiments with tables and colors. What do you think would look best and be most effective?-- Filll 17:31, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
Gravity | Evolution |
---|---|
Things falling is an observation of the pull of bodies towards each other. | Fruit flies changing generation to generation is an observation of generational organism change. |
Bodies pulling towards each other is called gravity. | Organisms changing generation to generation is called evolution. |
Gravity is a "fact". | Evolution is a "fact". |
The "facts" of gravity require an explanation. | The "facts" of evolution require an explanation. |
Aristotle, Galileo, and Newton created explanations of the "fact" of gravity. These are now obsolete explanations. | Lamarckism, Transmutationism and Orthogenesis were created as explanations of the "fact" of evolution. These are now obsolete explanations. |
Einstein's explanation is currently the most accepted explanation of the "fact" of gravity | Darwin's explanation is currently the most accepted explanation of the "fact" of evolution |
Einstein's explanation of the "fact" of gravity is called the Theory of Gravity | Darwin's explanation of the "fact" of evolution is called the Theory of Evolution |
Gravity is a "fact" and a "theory." | Evolution is a "fact" and a "theory." |
I toned the colors down and launched this as its own page. I also replaced the corresponding sections of the evolution and controversy articles with an abbreviated version of this material, with links to a longer article which is basically what is on this page.-- Filll 08:55, 15 December 2006 (UTC)
Scientists use many specialized terms, frequently incorporating terminology that may have different meanings to the lay-person. In defining "fact" and "theory", scientists ascribe to them very distinct meanings:
Carefully examining these two descriptions of the words "fact" and "theory" in a scientific context, reveals a source of confusion when discussing gravity. Gravity is referred to as both a "fact" and a "theory". Gravity is a "fact" because it has been observed, and observations are "facts" in scientific language. Gravity is also the name of the explanation for this "fact" and other evidence, or "facts". And scientific explanations are called "theories" in the language of science. So gravity is also a "theory", as well as a "fact".
The word "gravity" has been assigned to two different things, a "theory" and a "fact". It might appear confusing and disenguous to refer to gravity as both a "theory" and a "fact", but it is accurate. Gravity is an observable "fact". How and why gravity exerts its force onto objects is the subject of a Theory of Gravity. A Theory of Gravity is subject to rigorous scientific study, and it may change. It is common to refer to the most widely accepted "theory" of gravity as The Theory of Gravity, although of course it is just one of several. The validity of the statement that gravity exists remains unchanged, no matter what "theory" is most widely accepted, or even if no "theory" exists at that moment.
"Fact" and "theory" can be applied to evolution, just as it is to gravity. [3] This terminology has been used to dispute the validity of Evolution, which results from a misunderstanding of how those terms are applied to Evolution.
In the study of biological species, the "facts" include fossils and measurements of these fossils. The location of a fossil is an example of a "fact" (using the scientific meaning of the word "fact"). The age of particular fossils is also a fact. In species that rapidly reproduce, for example fruit flies, the process of evolutionary change has been observed in the laboratory. The observation of fruit fly populations changing character is also an example of a "fact", using the scientific meaning of the word "fact". So evolution is a "fact", at least using the scientific meaning of the word "fact". These "facts" need an explanation, just like the observations of gravity did.
In biology, there have been many attempts to explain these observations over the years. Lamarckism, Transmutationism and Orthogenesis are all nonDarwinian "theories" (in the scientific sense of the word "theory") that attempt to explain the observations of species and fossils and other evidence. However, the explanation for all these data or "facts" that is currently most accepted by scientists is called the Theory of Evolution. The "theory" of evolution is a model that explains the vast majority of the data, or evidence, that exist. So evolution is not only a "fact" but a "theory", just as gravity is both a "fact" and a "theory". [4]
This confusion between "fact" and "theory" in the study of evolution was explored in a well-known quote by paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould:
These are some experiments with tables and colors. What do you think would look best and be most effective?-- Filll 17:31, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
"Fact" | "Theory" |
---|---|
A "fact" in science is an observation. | A "theory" in science is an explanation for observations. |
Gravity | Evolution |
---|---|
Things falling is an observation of the pull of bodies towards each other. | Fruit flies changing generation to generation is an observation of generational organism change. |
Bodies pulling towards each other is called gravity. | Organisms changing generation to generation is called evolution. |
Gravity is a "fact". | Evolution is a "fact". |
The "facts" of gravity require an explanation. | The "facts" of evolution require an explanation. |
Aristotle, Galileo, and Newton created explanations of the "fact" of gravity. These are now obsolete explanations. | Lamarckism, Transmutationism and Orthogenesis were created as explanations of the "fact" of evolution. These are now obsolete explanations. |
Einstein's explanation is currently the most accepted explanation of the "fact" of gravity | Darwin's explanation is currently the most accepted explanation of the "fact" of evolution |
Einstein's explanation of the "fact" of gravity is called the Theory of Gravity | Darwin's explanation of the "fact" of evolution is called the Theory of Evolution |
Gravity is a "fact" and a "theory." | Evolution is a "fact" and a "theory." |
I toned the colors down and launched this as its own page. I also replaced the corresponding sections of the evolution and controversy articles with an abbreviated version of this material, with links to a longer article which is basically what is on this page.-- Filll 08:55, 15 December 2006 (UTC)