Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?

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Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
OP - December 15, 2009, 01:56 PM

I'm just curious about this, since while gravity is also called a theory, there is also a law of gravity i've heard of, and there are also other laws like law of action/reaction, etc. What's the reasoning behind calling evolution a 'theory' and not a law? It seems to misdirect a lot of (already misdirected) religious people into thinking that evolution isn't fully proven.
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a low?
Reply #1 - December 15, 2009, 02:06 PM

A difference between a theory and a fact is a theory explains observations, and a fact is something which is believed to be true. A good theory has to fulfil two requirements. It must accurately explain a large class of observations on the basis of a model that contains a few elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations.

The theory of evolution does this, making it a good theory. Evolution is a fact - genes mutate and introduce advantages and disadvantages. The theory of evolution as the basis for the emergence of modern life is a theory explaining the empirical observation of genetic code.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #2 - December 15, 2009, 02:12 PM

Quote from: aliadiere on December 15, 2009, 01:56 PM

A difference between a theory and a fact is a theory explains observations, and a fact is something which is believed to be true. A good theory has to fulfil two requirements. It must accurately explain a large class of observations on the basis of a model that contains a few elements, and it must make definite predictions about the results of future observations.

So the theory of evolution describes how evolution occurs, but shouldn't there also be a law then which states the conclusion of this theory? For example, a 'law of evolution' which says that over generations, species' genetic material changes, etc.. , and then a 'theory of evolution' which goes into more detail to explain how this occurs?
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #3 - December 15, 2009, 02:13 PM

I think micro evolution is easy to grasp and accept it's also perverse to deny it, seeing how it happens right in front of our eyes. But what boggles my mind is how you can be so selective? And yet not do the necessary research, i.e. selecting to believe in micro evolution but not in macro evolution. Science is not a damn candy shop!!!
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #4 - December 15, 2009, 02:33 PM

Evolution is the theory. Natural Selection would be the 'Law(s)' explaining it. Though I never hear it [Natural Selection] being referred to as law(s).

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #5 - December 15, 2009, 02:36 PM

You might find this link useful....

http://wilstar.com/theories.htm

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #6 - December 15, 2009, 02:39 PM

People who say things like "Evolution is only a theory" don't understand the meaning of "theory". They think that a theory is just guesswork.

It is a fact that organisms change over time. But the theory of evolution explains how these changes occur.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #7 - December 15, 2009, 02:45 PM

I think they should definitely propose a 'law' regarding evolution. If for nothing else than just for the more clear language about it, so ignorant people can stop claiming that evolution is a theory just because its got 'theory' in the name :p
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #8 - December 15, 2009, 02:48 PM

Liberated, you seem to be labouring under the misapprehension that there are no laws explained by evolutionary theory. Just as gravitational theory explains the laws of gravity, evolutionary theory explains the laws of evolution. Here's a brief explanation of them.

http://www.rattlesnake.com/notions/evolution.html

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #9 - December 15, 2009, 02:58 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w57_P9DZJ4

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #10 - December 15, 2009, 03:07 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory#Scientific_laws

Laws and theorems relate to very specific relations and principles. It almost 90% of the time related to mathematics and physics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_laws_in_science
Notice how many of the laws above are related to Biology... exactly zero.

Evolution explains a very big and complex phenomon and process that covers multiple fields of science. It's not and never will be called a law precisely because not a law. Like mentioned above, the root of all this "theory not a fact" comes from a profound ignorance of what 'theory' means and a general ignorance of about science.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #11 - December 15, 2009, 03:20 PM

Quote from: atheist.pk on December 15, 2009, 02:58 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w57_P9DZJ4

Interesting video.. favourited

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #12 - December 15, 2009, 04:35 PM

archasaur = crocoduck according to the video

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #13 - December 15, 2009, 05:53 PM

Quote from: liberated on December 15, 2009, 01:56 PM
I'm just curious about this, since while gravity is also called a theory, there is also a law of gravity i've heard of, and there are also other laws like law of action/reaction, etc. What's the reasoning behind calling evolution a 'theory' and not a law? It seems to misdirect a lot of (already misdirected) religious people into thinking that evolution isn't fully proven.

Everything in science is a theory. By principle nothing can be 100% provable.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #14 - December 15, 2009, 06:11 PM

Why should anyone have problem with the word "Theory"?

Quantum Theory is just a "Theory" and yet we are happily typing away on our computer keyboards sending messages out into the CyberSpace without ever worrying about Quantum Theory being just a Theory!

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #15 - December 15, 2009, 11:53 PM

a theory that is proven over and over again is basically a law
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #16 - December 15, 2009, 11:57 PM

No, it isn't. Read the links, truth. A law is not higher up in some ladder or hierarchy than a theory. A law describes reality, and a theory explains how the law works and makes predictions about how it will work in the future. A theory never, ever, ever becomes a law no matter how well evidenced or widely accepted it is.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #17 - December 16, 2009, 12:32 AM

i meant it in the terms that its characteristics are perceived very close to a law without it actually being a Law. Evolution is a fact now especially if you look at micro evolution.
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #18 - December 16, 2009, 12:42 AM

_truth_ please read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_theory#Scientific_laws

Quote
A common misconception is that scientific theories are rudimentary ideas that will eventually graduate into scientific laws when enough data and evidence has been accumulated. A theory does not change into a scientific law with the accumulation of new or better evidence. A theory will always remain a theory, a law will always remain a law.

Evolution is not a fact, its not a law. It's a theory. Facts are very small-scale observations or data. Laws are specific relations, often mathematical. Theories are over-arching explainations of facts and laws. Theories are the highest and most important ideas in science because they explain very big concepts.

Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #19 - December 16, 2009, 01:03 AM

When people question whether a theory should be called a law or fact then it shows me instantly they have absolutely no understanding of science.

Pythagoras theorem with the mathematics of right angle triangles is a easier example to use it has been around for ages it can never be proved wrong and it will never be called anything else.

In science if a theory can be proved wrong just once it is incorrect and has to be thrown out.
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #20 - December 16, 2009, 01:26 AM

Kaff I dont think you understood what i was saying

Quote
The "fact of evolution" refers to the changes in the genetic material of a population of biological organisms over time, which are known to have occurred through scientific observations and experiments.

Quote
The "theory of evolution" refers to the modern evolutionary synthesis, which is the current scientific explanation of how these changes occur.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_as_theory_and_fact#Fact

Quote
In reality, evolution is both a fact and a theory.

http://atheism.about.com/od/evolutionexplained/a/fact_theory.htm

The confusion arises when people do not understand the distinction between what part of evolution is a theory and what part of it is a fact
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #21 - December 16, 2009, 01:42 PM

Quote from: liberated on December 15, 2009, 01:56 PM
I'm just curious about this, since while gravity is also called a theory, there is also a law of gravity i've heard of, and there are also other laws like law of action/reaction, etc. What's the reasoning behind calling evolution a 'theory' and not a law? It seems to misdirect a lot of (already misdirected) religious people into thinking that evolution isn't fully proven.

It seems only Math, and math-like disciplines are blessed with laws and the capacity to come up with laws. Everything else, it based on the concept of 'beyond reasonable doubt' and beyond.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #22 - December 16, 2009, 02:54 PM

Quote from: AB71313 on December 16, 2009, 01:03 AM
Pythagoras theorem with the mathematics of right angle triangles is a easier example to use it has been around for ages it can never be proved wrong and it will never be called anything else.

OK - youve confused me now, I am sure pythagoraus's theorem can be proven by mathematics so when isnt this a Law?

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #23 - December 16, 2009, 04:39 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theorem

Theorems are purely abstract mathematical statements that have no need for empirical experiments or real world observations. They are like logical statements. eg If a = b and b = c therefore a = c. That's kind of like a theorem, it's just logically obvious based on the two conditions I stated. But it's not a law since it's not really defining the physical world directly.

Scientific Laws are fundamental principles and rules that are observable in the natural world and usually confirmed through experiments.

Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #24 - December 16, 2009, 05:00 PM

Quote from: Kafirist on December 16, 2009, 04:39 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theorem

Theorems are purely abstract mathematical statements that have no need for empirical experiments or real world observations. They are like logical statements. eg If a = b and b = c therefore a = c. That's kind of like a theorem, it's just logically obvious based on the two conditions I stated. But it's not a law since it's not really defining the physical world directly.

Scientific Laws are fundamental principles and rules that are observable in the natural world and usually confirmed through experiments.

So how does Darwins Theorem fit into your above explanation - If anything the opposite holds true from your first sentence?

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #25 - December 16, 2009, 05:04 PM

Theorem =/= Theory

Theorem is basically a mathematical proof.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_theorems
100% of them are math/logic and exist only on paper. They may have real world applications, but they don't need to.

Quote from: thinkfree on September 28, 2010, 07:58 PM
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #26 - December 16, 2009, 05:07 PM

You're right - cheers

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #27 - September 19, 2011, 01:50 AM

*bump*

I just want to say i have learn something from reading this thread.

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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #28 - September 19, 2011, 03:02 PM

i sometimes feel like scientists should have chosen a different word, or perhaps invented a new word. 'Theory' already has one definition that most people understand, but in a scientific context, it means an entirely different thing.

Simple confusion between two different definitions of a word accounts for such a significant amount of the anti evolution nonsense. I have tried to explain the difference so many times, often multiple times to the same person, and I have never made any progress. Not once.
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Re: Why is evolution called 'theory' and not a law?
Reply #29 - September 19, 2011, 03:24 PM

Quote from: Naija Infidel on September 19, 2011, 01:50 AM
*bump*

I just want to say i have learn something from reading this thread.

+1

I love this forum simply because of this ('3')

ETA: Thanks for bumping this.

n = 0 : n + [1,1,1...]
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