Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: circlecity
circlecity: "what does the theory of Darwinian evolution have to do with "science"?
It's never been witnessed happening, can't be measured, provides no predictability and can't be falsified."

First let's notice that you've shifted the discussion away from abiogenesis and to Darwinian evolution, a separate subject.
Unlike the abiogenesis hypothesis, basic evolution is a confirmed theory based on two observed facts: 1) descent with modifications and 2) natural selection.
Evolution theory simply says: carried on long enough those two processes will result in new breeds, varieties, sub-species, species, genera, etc.

So let's consider your objections:

  1. "It's never been witnessed happening."

    Basic evolution is observed every day when we notice offspring born with modifications their ancestors didn't have and we see that natural selection, in effect, weeds out the less well adapted individuals.

    Human directed evolution is what turned wolves into dogs, the great Aurochs into dairy cows and Near Eastern Wild Cats into house cats.
    Natural evolution on the "micro" scale can be observed in many species and evidence for "macro" scale evolution found for virtually every species know.
    So there's no serious reason to doubt that it did & does happen.

  2. "... can't be measured,"

    But of course it can and is measured, that's how biological classifications are determined -- whether breeds, sub-species, species or genera, etc., are based on careful measurements of the degrees of differences among different populations of similar individuals.

  3. "provides no predictability..."

    In fact, evolution theory provided many predictions later confirmed.
    For a very partial listing, see here.

  4. "...and can't be falsified"

    But of course evolution theory could be falsified.
    For a discussion & listing of ways, see here.

  5. "I see nothing about this 'theory' that conforms to the scientific method."

    I expect that's because you've redefined "scientific method" to exclude theories you dislike, especially "historical science".
    But in fact the science of evolution is equivalent to any other, for example forensic science used to solve crimes.
    In forensics you don't see what happened but can often prove it to a jury's satisfaction.
    So with evolution.

  6. "That's why it's based purely on faith."

    Words like "faith", "belief" and even "truth" in a larger sense are misapplied to science.
    Instead, science is about going where the evidence leads and finding explanations which stand up to rigorous tests.
    Ideas which fail the tests get replaced with better ideas and indeed, evolution theory today is quite different in details from Darwin's original understanding.
    But his basic idea of 1) descent with modifications and 2) natural selection resulting long-term in new species is as well accepted today as ever.


81 posted on 03/08/2018 9:57:31 AM PST by BroJoeK (a little historical perspective...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies ]


To: BroJoeK
"Basic evolution is observed every day when we notice offspring born with modifications their ancestors didn't have"

No, that is not evolution in any way shape or form. That's just recessive genes which already exist coming to the fore. How do you know "what their ancestors had" or didn't have. Same with the breeding of animals. This is not an example of some form of supposed beneficial mutation providing a survival advantage. We've tried to witness evolution by bombarding fruit flies with radiation to produce an advantageous mutation - after billions of fruit flies it's never happened. All we got were mutated dysfunctional, harmful mutations. No new beneficial genetic information has ever been created

Again, no it cant be measured by engaging in selective breeding of animals using genetic material which already exists and we have no reason to believe those genes have not existed since the beginning of time.

None of those predictions are based on evolution at all and could be predicted easily apart from evolution - especially the fossil record. That's why Harvard evolutionist Stephen Gould had to come up with the theory of punctuated equilibrium. Another elegant construct there is no evidence to support.

"In forensics you don't see what happened but can often prove it to a jury's satisfaction.

You can say the same of religion. There is no evidence to contradict the assertion that all the fundamental species defining genetic information which exists, ever existed or ever will exist was there from the beginning just waiting for environmental stress to bring it forward as a process of natural selection. In fact, modern information theory commands this conclusion as well as the second law of thermodynamics. Natural selection works quite well with existing genetic information and you don't need to posit random genetic mutations creating complex new genetic information to support it. Evolution is just another attempt to get around the laws of probability by speculating an infinite number of variables. Multi-verse theory does the same thing.

85 posted on 03/08/2018 10:58:41 AM PST by circlecity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson