I have had two professors, one for Natural Science and one for Anthropology use the same argument to answer a question.
The question was, “Is Evolutionism a fact?”
There response was this. “There is fact in Evolutionism.” They then seem to imply that this means that it is indeed a fact. I’m wondering what people think about this argument. I emphasize, I want to know what you think about this argument, not about whether evolutionism is true or not.
My opinion is this(since you asked).
Correct my interpretation of their logic if I’m wrong. They seem to be saying this.
All Facts are true(this I agree with).
Anything that has facts in it is true(I’m not so sure 'bout that…).
*I HAVE BEEN SMOKE-FREE FOR:
Six months, three weeks, 21 hours, 39 minutes and 33 seconds.
8196 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,024.51.
Extra life with Drain Bead: 4 weeks, 11 hours, 0 minutes.
THE YANKEES WIN! THAAAAAAH YANKEES WIN!
1996 · 1998 ··· WORLD CHAMPIONS ··· 1999 · 2000
26 Titles! The #1 Dynasty of all-time!
And most importantly… RULERS OF NYC!!*
Anything that has facts in it is true? No. That is like saying, any puzzle that has pieces in it is put together correctly. The facts may be completely misinterpreted just as a puzzle could be put together in not quite the correct manner.
Theories aren’t facts. I accept evolution as the truth, and I think you’d have to be fairly dim not to with the preponderance of evidence being on the side of this theory, but I could still be wrong.
evolution = change
It is a fact (verifiable evidence) that changes occur in species.
The Theory of Evolution is an explanation of how the evolution of life on Earth occurs/occurred. An “explanation” is not a “fact”, but it can be based on facts.
I think what your professors were trying to do was be diplomatic about saying that, while evolution is well-supported by evidence, evolution is not certain (just as no scientific theory is ever certain). It’s often said that evolution is a fact, but that’s hyperbole indicating that, generally and for the moment, it’s so well supported by scientifically valid evidence that questioning the general premise isn’t very useful.
Evolution, in the sense of “species changing into other species over time” is a fact. We haven’t directly observed this process taking place in the same way you can watch something happening in a test tube, but this is true of lots and lots of facts in science. If you want to get all philosophical about it, you could question the fact of evolution, but if you’re sufficiently solipsistic, you can question just about any fact; evolution is about as well established as facts get in science. There are also theories of evolution; i.e., systematic models which seek to explain how evolution takes place. Theories of evolution have included Lamarckianism (inheritance of acquired characteristics) and Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin’s theory is still the core of modern evolutionary theory (the “neo-Darwinian synthesis”), and one of the cornerstones of biology, although with considerable elaborations and modifications. Scientific theories aren’t just wild-ass guesses, of course, and while the “neo-Darwinian synthesis” might be modified in the future, it’s unlikely it will ever be completely discarded.
Unfortunately, this is incorrect. Facts are based upon our perceptions and perceptions can change. Facts are merely our current interpretations of reality.
**
The Bible has facts in it. Is the Bible, taken in its entirety, ‘true’? That depends upon who you ask, so I’d say that the quoted statement is at best dubious.
**
I would agree with this.
**
Which, of course, does not follow, strictly speaking, from the above.
I think a better argument would go like this:
Q: Is evolution a fact?
A: If we define evolution as Darwin did to mean ‘descent with modification,’ then it would fit the definition of ‘fact,’ in that we do perceive this to occur; however, ‘truth’ is to be found within philosophy, not science. We cannot ascertain the ‘truth’ of evolution any more than we can ascertain the ‘truth’ of the existence, or even the lack thereof, of God.
