16-01-2022, 06:11 PM
Its rather more than theory, but the use of that term can apparently cause confusion.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...eationist/
"Many people learned in elementary school that a theory falls in the middle of a hierarchy of certaintyÔÇöabove a mere hypothesis but below a law. Scientists do not use the terms that way, however. According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a scientific theory is ÔÇ£a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.ÔÇØ No amount of validation changes a theory into a law, which is a descriptive generalization about nature. So when scientists talk about the theory of evolutionÔÇöor the atomic theory or the theory of relativity, for that matterÔÇöthey are not expressing reservations about its truth.
In addition to the theory of evolution, meaning the idea of descent with modification, one may also speak of the fact of evolution. The NAS defines a fact as ÔÇ£an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed and for all practical purposes is accepted as ÔÇÿtrue.ÔÇÖÔÇØ The fossil record and abundant other evidence testify that organisms have evolved through time."
https://www.scientificamerican.com/artic...eationist/
"Many people learned in elementary school that a theory falls in the middle of a hierarchy of certaintyÔÇöabove a mere hypothesis but below a law. Scientists do not use the terms that way, however. According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), a scientific theory is ÔÇ£a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, inferences, and tested hypotheses.ÔÇØ No amount of validation changes a theory into a law, which is a descriptive generalization about nature. So when scientists talk about the theory of evolutionÔÇöor the atomic theory or the theory of relativity, for that matterÔÇöthey are not expressing reservations about its truth.
In addition to the theory of evolution, meaning the idea of descent with modification, one may also speak of the fact of evolution. The NAS defines a fact as ÔÇ£an observation that has been repeatedly confirmed and for all practical purposes is accepted as ÔÇÿtrue.ÔÇÖÔÇØ The fossil record and abundant other evidence testify that organisms have evolved through time."
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)