I have often heard people connvinced of the truth of the theory of evolution say something like, "evolution is MORE than just a theory." In fact, in 1996 (I believe it was) the Vatican itself came out with a verdict which read in the headlines, "Evolution: more than a theory."
Aside from the questions raised regarding the truthfulness of evolutionary claims, most people do not have enough education in the philosophy of the sciences to realize they here commit a fundamental error. Theories do not relate to facts or data the way rifles relate to pistols. This is a wrong-headed way of thinking about the matter altogether.
Theories names ideas which have as their aim correlation and explanation. They seek to -- put crudely -- connect the dots in a coherent picture, which explains why relevant facts appear as they do. They are NOT lesser, more primitive kinds of facts, as though when something appears unlikely or problematic we call it a theory, but then once proven it becomes "a fact." Weak theories become strong or good theories when confirmed, they do not TURN INTO facts.
They NOW explain the facts MORE CLEARLY and COMPREHENSIVELY. Theories, in other words, do a different job than facts do. It is the job of troublesome facts (sometimes called counterinstances) to demand EXPLAIN ME -- I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU.
It is the job of theories to make this happen. So evolutionary views, no matter if they turn out to be gospel truth or outrageous scams, will never be more than a theory. They might make good ones or else silly ones. But evolution cannot be a "fact," since facts are bits of data explained and interpreted by theories. Theories are abstract; facts are concrete (your little sister could throw one at you).
This may seem a belabored point about a simple distinction. But I assure you, you will soon enough find yourself explaining that theories relate to facts as GENERAL explanations of PARTICULAR concrete data (facts ma'am), just to be able to engage the dialogue with the uninformed evolutionist. Oh yes, they are out there.
So when I say, "Evolution is NOT more than just a theory," you understand that I am not making a claim against the putative TRUTH of the theory of evolution. I am simply pointing out the obviously theoretical character of all forms of evolutionism.
If I wish to favor the other side of the debate (Creationism) -- as I am wont to do -- I say things like, "Evolutionary theories refute themselves, are filled with epistemological voodoo (leaps and gaps), undermine the necessary preconditions for the intelligibility of science itself, imply doctrines inconsistent with accepted teachings in other fields of science, would render logic impossible, and employ theoretical virtues inconsistent with anything but Creationism in order to test or interpret them, etc. etc.
This means "evolution is a very poor theory" on my view of things. But even if I held it to be a god theory -- like say "force equals mass times acceleration," I would not call this a fact. It is a well substantiated theory. Or else one could call it simply a true theory. But F=ma is not a fact because I cannot chew it.
Coincidentally, though I cannot now recall the article's name, I was surprised to find a piece written precisely to this effect by one Stephen J. Gould -- a major protagonist for the "punctuated equilibrium" theory of evolution. This may be the only philosophical point we agree on in the entire cosmos for all I know.
But what I here suggest is this: my major claim for today's post is non-controversial -- or at least ought to be. Even Einstein thought this through -- he did'nt often make philosophical pronouncements like this -- he said that when people from widely differing viewpoints intersected at this or that point, here you are most likely staring the truth in the face (my paraphrase).
Enough heavy-duty brain squeezing. Here are my musings for the day.
Historical Insights And Other Miscellany
- The Chinese have always been big on astrology and cooking. How they got the "year of the Rat" from this mix is surprising. Why not the year of the Kentucky-fried Chicken (with exactly 12 herbs and spices)?
- Egypt’s biggest and longest lasting monuments, the pyramids, are actually huge tombs. Obviously, Egyptian merchants also sold a lot of bandages and glue.
- The Greek empire viewed its greatest asset as the intellectual strength of its people. But they were overcome by the Romans, a people who saw their greatest asset as the ability to beat other people senseless. Just who was more badly mistaken is up for grabs.
- The epic hero, Gilgamesh was supposed to be 2/3 divine and 1/3 human. This seems like math gone wild. I’m guessing he was also 4/19ths confused, and 13/41 angry (divided by the sqaure root of pi).
- Pharaoh Khafre (Cheops) built a monument called the Sphinx, with his head featured on a lion’s body. It was kinda like visiting a Statue of Liberty (built by slaves) AND the zoo at the same time.
- Babylonians built their own pyramids, called "ziggurats." Only these had steps all the way to the top. Obviously, Babylonians had an irrational fear of taking the elevator.
- Sometimes the French overdo things. When Gillette couldn’t get people a close enough shave, they came up with the Guillotine.
- John Kerry is a true American. The U.S. Constitution forbids congress to do anything establishing a religion; yet presidents for 200 years have assumed their office by swearing an oath on a Bible. This means Americans voted against religion, but that was before they voted FOR it.
- Washington crossed the Delaware. Arnold double-crossed Washington.
- If you order eggs benedict, avoid silverware. When you turn for coffee, they’ll stab you in the back.
- Once, there were actually four popes. They got along so badly they excommunicated each other. This suggests that Roman Catholics might be unusually good at hockey.
- Remember, if you drink and drive, you WILL spill perfectly good beer.
- When Martin Luther published his non-conformist 95 theses, he had to go to a Diet of Worms. If you think about it, that’s a pretty severe punishment.
- Fortune cookies are way too optimistic. They never forecast tragedies. When’s the last time your cookie read, "The plane you’re on will plunge from the sky when your cousin gets shipped to Iraq, and your Hi-def Teevee can only get the Oprah channel."
- [Letterman to Barrack Obama] "Now THAT’S an electable suit!"
- Some of Lincoln’s officers wrote him a letter complaining about the general’s (Ulysses.S. Grant’s) war time habits. The letter protested that he drinks way too much, he wins his battles, but at extreme cost to the army, and shows little regard for the opinions of other officers. Lincoln’s response didn’t take long: "Find out what brand Grant is drinking," wrote Lincoln, "and give it to the rest of my officers."
- The Spartans were a quizzical bunch. Phillip of Macedon – father of Alexander called "the Great") had conquered most of Greece, except for Sparta in the south. Now the Spartans, one of whose regions was "Laconia," were known for answering in very few words (where we get the English word "Laconic," meaning concise and brief). Phillip decided to call a council of all rulers in the area and invited them to meet. He also sent such a dispatch to Sparta, who promptly ignored it.
An annoyed Phillip then sent another letter to them saying, "You WILL send representatives to my meeting or you will face the consequences. If I get my military into your lands, you will see extraordinary devastation ....."
The Spartans sent back a timely response in a single word. "If." Phillip, recalling Spartan military history, decided it would be better just to let them alone (undoubtedly a wise choice).
- [Presuppositionalist saying:] "Evolutionists. They’re not just for breakfast anymore."
- Scientists keep saying that evolution is more than a theory. So I have upgraded it accordingly. Now I classify it as a full-orbed neurosis.
- Freudian slip: This happen when you say one thing, but mean your mother.
- Evolutionist: Evolution occurs so slowly that it is not observable. Creationist: Evolution occurs so slowly that its rate is best described as absolute zero.
- How to Mach evolutionists presuppositionally. Science could not proceed without laws, and everything evolves. But scientific laws are constants, by definition, and do not evolve. Therefore, there are no scientific laws (or other constants), and science must walk the Planck.
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