Evolution is just a theory
But what does that mean?
What is a theory?
In everyday life, we use the word “theory” to mean a guess.
In science, a “theory” means something which isn’t a simple observation, but an explanation which tells us why we observe things the way we do.
Color Theory
Color theory is the study of color mixing and the visual effects of specific color combinations.
The purposes of color theory range from renaissance fine art to modern commercial advertising. Colors affect our mood and perception.
Color theory has been studied by professional artists and designers for centuries.
Even though the ideas of color theory have been improved and refined by great artists for centuries, it is just a theory. It could all be wrong.
But even if it’s all wrong…
colors still exist
The Theory of Evolution
Scientists observe evolution:
- in the wild
- in the lab
- in history (the fossil record)
The fact that it happens is just that… a fact!
Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection explains how it happens.
If new evidence is discovered which proves the theory wrong, it is still a fact that evolution happens… we just need to figure out a new explanation of how it happens.
A Theory… and a Fact
“…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. Einstein’s theory of gravitation replaced Newton’s, but apples did not suspend themselves in mid-air, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from apelike ancestors whether they did so by Darwin’s proposed mechanism or by some other, yet to be discovered.”