Evolution is just a theory

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Gravity is also just a theory

Scientific basis for evolution is much weaker than that for gravity

Gravity's firmer grounding does not disqualify evolution as a theory

Evolution is mathematically impossible

Improbable does not equate to impossible

Probability cannot disprove events that have transpired

There is no proof of causation

Simply wrong

Evolution can be observed today.

Time requires change in order to exist.

Evolution has many wide gaps

Evidence of evolution is extensively documented

The literature varies in significance

Many scientists disagree with the evolutionary biologists

The opinions of a handful of scientists is irrelevant

Thousands of scientists disagree with evolution

Evolutionary "gaps" have been refuted

Gravity is scienific law

There are theories of gravitation as well as laws

Then tell me about a graviton

Theory is a scientific term that, in this instance, does not mean "speculation"

Tags: evolution

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J-luck

I changed your node from "Above node is irrelevant" to "Scientific basis for evolution is much weaker than that for gravity"

This is more useful in reading the diagram

Comment by: Ulysses Berman At: 2008-08-02 15:00:04

Re: node: No huge volume of evidence

On the comment about mathematical impossibility, many numerical models of evolution contradict your assertion. Search on "numerical model of biological evolution" in goggle scholar for evidence that contradicts your assertion.

Comment by: kuzyk At: 2008-08-06 15:23:04

J-Luck

document your mathematical impossibility and "wide gaps" assertions

Comment by: Ulysses Berman At: 2008-08-06 23:47:47

J-Luck and kuzyk

This flow is poor form:

- Evidence is overwhelming with no gaps
- No huge volume of evidence
- There ARE MANY GAPS, and evolution is shaky at best
- The opinions of a handful of scientists is irrelevant

This has devolved into "uh huh", "nuh uh". This site is supposed to transcend that type of interaction. In order to do so, it requires rigor and effort from the participants. The rewards, I hope, speak for themselves

I did a lot of editing:

- splitting out multiple assertions
- moving nodes to a more appropriate place
- retitling nodes

Comment by: Ulysses Berman At: 2008-08-07 00:01:29

Re: node: Evolution is mathematically impossible

This node would be better written as "Evolution is too improbable."

I'm guessing that when you say it is mathematically impossible, you're referring to the argument that evolution is so improbable, it reaches a threshold that shaves close enough to zero that it's not likely to occur in the history of the universe.

Comment by: Kinsman At: 2008-08-26 13:55:19

Evolution is an algorithym

What Darwin discovered was an algorithym. Sorry for spelling if its wrong. Im too lazy to look up. LOL.

We can research more about this, but geneticists are using the algorithym at present in their research to show how genes are passed into offspring, and with what rate of mutation (mutation creates genetic diversity which in turn leads to better/worse survival odds which is, in the end, called natural selection, survival of the fittest, or 'evolution'.)

Comment by: Sorenthia At: 2008-10-01 03:23:12

Proving negatives

I stated this on the 'there is no personal god' argument, but again we have a main premise that is basically asking us to prove a negative. "Evolution is just a theory" is basically saying "there is no such thing as evolution". But the burden of proof, as I said before, is always on the person claiming that something EXISTS. So the premise is better stated as "Evolution is a Proven Occurence" or something like that. You get my gist.

Comment by: Sorenthia At: 2008-10-01 03:28:27

Re: node: Gravity is also just a theory

Not only this, but a theory has already been subjected to extensive experimentation for it to even be called a theory in science (for Darwin it was the Finches ect...). Unfortunately things can only be called a law (such as the "Law of universal gravitation") when the testing has been so extensive and it has been "seen in action" so much that there is absolutely no doubt left regarding its validity. Evolution takes place for too slow for this type of experimentation.

Comment by: ALBruce At: 2008-10-27 23:04:49

J-Luck

Your node "Evolution does not have a huge volume of supporting evidence. Since the basic premise of evolution has no evidence, the rest of it is highly questionable" under "Gravity's firmer grounding does not disqualify evolution as a theory" has been deleted.

Define the "basic premise of evolution" which you distinguish from "the rest of it".

Also provide a citation to support your "Evolution does not have a huge volume of supporting evidence" assertion

Also, your node "Wrong - The understanding surrounding gravity and electricity is law, not theory" was deleted because gravitation and electricity are referred to both in terms of law and theory (as noted in response to your "gravity is a law" node)

Comment by: Ulysses Berman At: 2008-11-25 21:25:47

Thesis is incomplete

To say that evolution is just a theory is to imply that others claim evolution to be something more than that, but the thesis doesn't say what else others claim evolution to be.

It also doesn't provide a working definition of the word "theory", which has different connotations in different contexts.

Comment by: MackTuesday At: 2009-01-28 16:57:54

Random Change with Non Random Selection

Evolution is just random change coupled with non random selection. This is not an original idea. Another way of stating this is to imagine a large number of monkeys typing "War and Peace". It would be a practical impossibility if the monkeys had to start from scratch each time. However, if some mechanism conserved letters or words that actually were part of "War and Peace", but allowed replacement of those letters or words that were not, "War and Peace" would emerge in due course. Evolution conserves what works and abandons that which does not. It is that easy.

Comment by: bigthinknman At: 2010-05-16 17:24:53

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