Evolution is a Fact and a Theory
by Laurence Moran

Evolution: Fact, Theory, Controversy

Evolution

“Scientific creationism” is a self-contradictory, nonsense phrase precisely because it cannot be falsified. I can envision observations and experiments that would disprove any evolutionary theory I know, but I cannot imagine what potential data could lead creationists to abandon their beliefs. Unbeatable systems are dogma, not science.

Gould’s alluding to Popper’s falsification hypothesis–look it up.

So, theory and fact… Theories are the structual frameworks in which facts become meaningful; or, from another (more Germanic) perspective, theories are the transcendental frameworks in which empirical experience is articulated; or, (in the Kuhnian language popular in the philosophy of science), theories are the paradigms in which the data of normal science occurs qua data; or, theories are the language games in which individual utterances achieve validity.

The relationship between theory and fact in science–which I’m fairly certain that I understand much better than you–isn’t too complicated when you understand how theory is actually being used in its technical sense.

Regardless, your statement: “Bottom line is, evolution is just a “theory”, just as “intelligent design”is a theory,” was false. You have all of the data necessary to recognize that it was false; you’ve shown absolutely no ability to defend this utterance, yet you refuse to admit that your wrong.

My rudeness, my arrogance, my stubborness, or my anything else doesn’t change this simple fact.

Your intellectual dishonesty is horrifying.

Just because someone doesn’t agree with you does not make them wrong.

The folks on the right (as represented by the folks on this site) are always harping about accountability, integrity—the sorts of values that they love to pretend to have. The reason? I guess that its usually easier to claim (falsely, of course) the moral high-ground than to develop a coherent argument.

Here’s the situation:

Waaaaay back in post 6, Peejz stated “Bottom line is, evolution is just a theory, just as ‘intelligent design’ is a theory.” She thus repeated the same silly mistake that Reagan made years ago and, unfortunately, the same silly mistake repeated again and again by Christians scared of having their beliefs threatened. I linked to an article that explained her error to her, and now, assuming that she read the article, she knows better. In a year from now, however, if this site is still active, she’ll probably repeat the same “mistake” again, because, you see, even though the statement is demonstrably false it props up the sort of political agenda that Peejz supports.

Though Peejz must now recognize her initial statement as indefensible, she refuses to admit that she was wrong. This is obviously a relatively small fish in the ocean of right-wing half-truths and outright lies; nonetheless, admitting her mistake would be a symbolic gesture, a gesture that would represent a willingness to accept the truth even in those pesky cases when it conflicts with one’s most firmly and irrationally held political prejudices. That’s why Im not going to let it go.