Posted by Adam on November 22, 1999, at 23:57:54
In reply to fact?, posted by Bob on November 22, 1999, at 16:59:31
>
>one population had a higher percentage of red-coated individuals than the other. That is the only demonstrable truth. You say it yourself -- "regardless of the dynamics"
>-- I could just as easily state that since the sky is blue and the sky is made of nitrogen, mostly, that nitrogen must therefore be blue.
>
You could hypothesize that nitrogen is blue. Then you could test that hypothesis. Then you could conclude "it's blue". Maybe somebody hypothesized red-coated wolves
are there because of a particular evolutionary process. Why assume they put this forth as "truth?" And even if someone did, why does this necessarily speak against the
theory of evolution in science?> Evolution, as a theory, consists of a number of mechanisms that describe how species today may have derived from species in the past (and please note, folks, that
>evolution applies to species and not to individuals ... particularly if you want to talk about genetic mechanisms of evolution). There are number of possible explanations
>as to the difference in the groups...many potential mechanisms, all similar but not identical dynamics, and all support the general notions that are held in common as the
>THEORY of evolution. Again, tho, the only FACT is the measurable population density of red vs. gray coated coyotes in each group.
The point being? I suppose if I just left it at that I wouldn't be doing much to test evolution. I could observe the wolves over a long time and narrow down the list
of selective pressures. A person, when they hypothesize something, is under some obligation to test this hypothesis. If they don't, they're not practicing science.
Why would I use the latter example to talk about science and evolution? And what does such an example tell us about theory? I think you are proposing people use hypotheses
to support theories. They don't, or they shouldn't. They ought to use theories to come up with good hypotheses which they then test by gathering more factual information.
Of course theories have origins. All ideas do. Then they get tested. What's the problem with evolution, then? What's the problem with "THEORY"?
poster:Adam
thread:14368
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991108/msgs/15675.html