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To: RFC_Gal
Darwinism is a theory, ID is a theory, and astrology is a theory. So ... Where does that get you?

The issue is what theory is correctly based on fact and science: the way things actually are.

29 posted on 07/30/2006 3:40:38 PM PDT by infoguy (www.frankenlies.com ... www.themediareport.com ...)
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To: infoguy

ID isn't a theory neither is astrology.

Theory - "In scientific usage, a theory does not mean an unsubstantiated guess or hunch, as it often does in other contexts. A theory is a logically self-consistent model or framework for describing the behavior of a related set of natural or social phenomena. It originates from and/or is supported by experimental evidence (see scientific method)."


33 posted on 07/30/2006 3:47:14 PM PDT by RFC_Gal (There is no tagline)
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To: infoguy
Darwinism is a theory, ID is a theory, and astrology is a theory. So ... Where does that get you?

The issue is what theory is correctly based on fact and science: the way things actually are.

Of those three fields, only evolution is a theory as that term is used in science.

See the definitions below:

Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses." Addendum: "Theories do not grow up to be laws. Theories explain laws." (Courtesy of VadeRetro.)

Theory: A scientifically testable general principle or body of principles offered to explain observed phenomena. In scientific usage, a theory is distinct from a hypothesis (or conjecture) that is proposed to explain previously observed phenomena. For a hypothesis to rise to the level of theory, it must predict the existence of new phenomena that are subsequently observed. A theory can be overturned if new phenomena are observed that directly contradict the theory. [Source]

When a scientific theory has a long history of being supported by verifiable evidence, it is appropriate to speak about "acceptance" of (not "belief" in) the theory; or we can say that we have "confidence" (not "faith") in the theory. It is the dependence on verifiable data and the capability of testing that distinguish scientific theories from matters of faith.


34 posted on 07/30/2006 4:01:15 PM PDT by Coyoteman (I love the sound of beta decay in the morning!)
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