Re: Is Evolution a Theory or a Fact

Greta replied:
> On Sun, 16 Nov 2003 11:02:26 -0800, Rich <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
>
>
> > And there you have it. The hallmark of science is that theories can
> > be disproved, that they are falsifiable. Evolution is falsifiable.
> > The problem is, so far the evidence seems to support it.
>
>
> I'm perplexed by this statement. If evolution can be proven false,
> then it cannot be true. No?

So you see no difference between...

1) can potentially be proven false
2) has been proven false

How odd.

If I say it'll rain tomorrow at noon in Times Square, that statement
is falsifiable (although it's not a theory per se). If it rains, it's
been proven true, if it does not, it's been proven false. But tomorrow
is not yet here, so it has not yet been proven either true or false.

> So isn't all this business about "falsifiability" just a bunch
> philosophical wankery?

Only if your viewpoint is overly simplistic.

> Your other point about theories being able to predict events is well
> taken. That is ultimately what determines whether a theory will be
> taken seriously or not.

It's the same thing.

If the predictions come true, the theory is not validated, but tested,
if the prediction does not come true, the theory has potentially been
proven false. The tests themselves often fail or are proven inaccurate.

Rich