Re: Student perceptions re evolution

From: Jay Willingham (jaywillingham@cfl.rr.com)
Date: Mon Aug 25 2003 - 16:40:46 EDT

  • Next message: Jay Willingham: "Re: Fact and theory of evolution"

    Then evolution is not a fact but a competing explanation of facts.

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Stephen J. Krogh, P.G." <panterragroup@mindspring.com>
    To: <asa@calvin.edu>
    Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 3:32 PM
    Subject: RE: Student perceptions re evolution

    > > -----Original Message-----
    > > From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu]On
    > > Behalf Of Jay Willingham
    > > Sent: Monday, August 25, 2003 1:13 PM
    > > To: ASA
    > > Subject: Re: Student perceptions re evolution
    > >
    > >
    > > I stand corrected regarding the identity of theory and fact.
    > > However in his
    > > definition quoted below, he did say evolution was a fact as well as a
    > > theory.
    >
    > While evolution is both a fact and a theory, fact does not equal theory.
    > Similarly, my sister is a wife, a mother, as well as an accountant.
    However,
    > wife mother, sister and an accountant are not the same thing.
    >
    >
    > > Before I contest that issue, I should wait for a consensus definition of
    > > "evolution" from the group.
    > >
    > > Gould quote:
    > >
    > > "Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and
    > > theories are
    > > different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty.
    Facts
    > > are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and
    > > interpret facts. Facts do not go away when scientists debate
    > > rival theories
    > > to explain them."
    > >
    > > Jay
    >
    > IOW, facts "in science", are the observations. Theories explain the
    > observation. As Gould states, they are completely different animals, so to
    > speak. Gravity is also both a theory and fact. Theories of Gravity have
    been
    > employed to explain the known observations (facts) of Gravity. When new
    > observations (facts) are observed, the explanation (theory) must be
    modified
    > to account for the new observation. The Theories are fact driven, not the
    > other way around.
    >
    >
    >



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