The phrase "Evolution is a fact" is interesting to me, semantically. My question for discussion is whether this is a scientifically justifiable statement.
First, I don't think everyone is thinking of the same
evolution when they talk about this statement. Some folks launch into a discussion of natural selection, which, i thought, was a mechanism of evolution but not evolution itself.
Secondly, it is not clear to me what sense of the
word fact is being used here. (I have an entry from the Merriam-Webster website below for reference.) If Evolution is a theory, it cannot be a fact. But, then, I may have missed the promotion ceremony.
But, is it that we are saying evolution has occurred, as in def'n 4. Or, is it an object that is able to be examined and tested, as in def'n 5 (i hope not, as I can't test it, nor can you).
From
Dictionary by Merriam-Webster: America's most-trusted online dictionary:
Main Entry:
fact
Pronunciation:
\fakt\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Latin factum, from neuter of factus, past participle of facere
Date:
15th century
1: a thing done: as a obsolete : feat b: crime carchaic : action
2 archaic : performance , doing
3: the quality of being actual : actuality
4 a: something that has actual existence b: an actual occurrence
5: a piece of information presented as having objective reality
” in fact
: in truth
™ Version 4.2