A theory is a model that explains observations. If new observations contradict the existing theory, it can be modified or replaced. For example, Einstein’s theory of relativity refined Newton’s theory of gravity.
However, the colloquial definition of a theory as speculative doesn’t apply to scientific theories. So when a YEC dismisses evolution as “just a theory,” they’re only showing that they don’t know what the word means.
Theory is not a fact ? But theories are composed of facts. You’re taking the term out of context. Theory explains how the the facts work in conjunction to form a predicable model. Germ theory for example, an understanding of how that works leads to vaccines. There are still gaps in what we know, but what we know are facts, applied still gives doctors something to work with. The same with Atomic Theory. Knowing how the facts play out leads to nuclear power plants. They work. Now, if you’re pitting something like evolution against the idea of intelligent design, you can argue fact as oppose to mere theory. You would fail. Because fact within the theory are still better than a hypothesis with no fact at all.
@DocSavage i think you are taking it out of context. by definition it's cut and dry. Laws of nature are represented with a relationship between two things. calculated. gravity is the force between two bodies. inverse square law. applies to all bodies of mass. theory tried to explain how or what something is. not calculations. not sure why anyone would disagree. it's a clear difference and it is a scientific definition.
All quite true. A theory can be based in science but not be fully understood or explained yet. And even if it makes sense on the understood evidence, it can be totally wrong. (ask the phlogiston chemists) The thing is, just one fact contravening the theory can trash it completely.. And until that fact is found and tested, it remains viable. People trying to prove creation science fall at the first hurdle, because none of their hypotheses can be tested and reproduced. So while it may be creation, it is not, by definition, "Science".😷
An actual theory means models can be designed and tested based on evidence. Like gravity, evolution has passed with flying colors. Even passes falsification. Science strives for a 95% positive result before declaring a fact. What criteria do you accept?
Nothing in science, no theory, is provable, not even the theory of gravity. The best we have is increasing evidence that if the theory is wrong, it's only wrong by a tiny bit.
Newton's theory of gravity makes predictions to better than 1 part in a billion. And we still use it. But it's wrong. It's been supplanted by General Relativity which makes slightly better predictions. However, GR isn't proven either.
A theory gets supplated when a better theory that explains more arises. There is no such replacement for evolution. Evolution is the best explanation we have for the forms and species we see in life on Earth.
@Northwest There is a nice presentation on the Britannica website which shows the relation between energy and momentum so that massless particles are included.
Wikipedia has a thorough treatment too which also includes @Northwest's power series approximation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass%E2%80%93energy_equivalence
@ArishMell to me I find it funny how upset and threatened people are about the possibility the theory could be wrong. And do not even consider another scientific theory could be more accurate on the molecular level. Something that was completely unknown at the time. 150 year old theory that people are convinced has to be right because the thought of it being inaccurate threatens them. Can't even imagine a different scientific theory. They just say God is magic. 🙄🤣🤣
@Axeroberts There is a difference between presenting genuine finding new evidence, perhaps by improved techniques, that may greatly alter or overturn an existing theory far more than simply refining its details; and just dismissing a theory without presenting any worthwhile alternative hypothesis.
So far no-one has done that with the Theory of Evolution. They have though greatly refined it, including by examining how genetics works.
As far saying God is magic, ironically that is the stance of both those attacking believing the Genesis myth, and those who do believe it.
