Fact Theory Falacy

quote:

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Originally posted by TrueCreation:
There has been some discussion on what you would consider a Fact, and it seems that it is, I ask the more of specifics on what they would call a fact, that it resembles the relevance of a theory rather than a factoid. What is the definition and views on the differences of fact and theory?

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Personally I would have thought this was a pretty simple question.A THEORY is an explanation for the existence of a number of observable
phenomena (FACTS).Evolution IS a theory ... not a fact. No matter how many observations
of the world support it, it will always be a theory. Evolutionary theory attempts to explain the diversity of life on earth, and as
Darwin's title says the origin of species.A belief (no matter where it comes from) is NOT fact.I believe that Evolution is a feasible, well supported explanaiton
for the diversity of life on earth. This is because it plausibly
explains many FACTS which can be observed.What facts? A couple would be:Anatomical similarities between ALL vertebrates.
The fossil record (whatever you believe about it fossils DO exist).I'm not arguing what those facts are at the moment, I'm discussing the nature of FACT and THEORY.

quote:

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Originally posted by toff:
That is precisely what evolution DOES explain. As so often happens, when creationists get an answer they don't like, they merely shift the goalposts. Mutation is possible to have accounted for all 'information' being there and being removed/modified.

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Yes ... and according to geneticists you can see this in modern
birds.The genes exist in modern birds for teeth, but are 'switched off'.
The information is there, but other factors stop it from being
used.

Not sure how all this is related to the thread title, but
in terms of the information content of the genetics underlying
an organism surely one needs to look at the organism as a whole.As a somewhat limited analagy the difference between FRIEND and
FIEND is only one letter, but the informational content carried
by those two words is extreme.

Perhaps we could all go back and read the TOPIC for this thread.What it means to be famous, I think has largely been covered.
Famous scientists are those who are known outside their
individual fields.Steven Hawkin is famous.
Einstein is so famous you don't need his first name, just
don't confuse him with the violinist!!Whether or not any famous ANTHING are of the opinion that YEC
is FACT is irrelevant. It's evidence and the explanation of that
evidence that is needed.I posted the following a while ago ... and have no idea whether
or not it got read ... but feel it is a complete, or at least
adequate, answer to TC's original question.

quote:

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Originally posted by Peter:
Personally I would have thought this was a pretty simple question.

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A THEORY is an explanation for the existence of a number of observable
phenomena (FACTS).

​

Evolution IS a theory ... not a fact. No matter how many observations
of the world support it, it will always be a theory. Evolutionary theory attempts to explain the diversity of life on earth, and as
Darwin's title says the origin of species.

​

A belief (no matter where it comes from) is NOT fact.

​

I believe that Evolution is a feasible, well supported explanaiton
for the diversity of life on earth. This is because it plausibly
explains many FACTS which can be observed.

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What facts? A couple would be:

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Anatomical similarities between ALL vertebrates.
The fossil record (whatever you believe about it fossils DO exist).

​

I'm not arguing what those facts are at the moment, I'm discussing the nature of FACT and THEORY.

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I don't think that you need to counter that as such.What you need to say is that 'just a theory' is an
inapproriate way of phrasing the question.Theories are not fact, they are founded in the interpretation
of facts.Evolution, as a theory, has a lot of facts which are in favour
of the theory as currently expressed, and few which are against
it. As time goes by, and more is understood, even those
few 'contras' get filled in.I mean, gravitation is 'just' a theory, but I'm not going to
be stepping off any high ledges just yet