Self-acclaimed young-Earth creationists often say “evolution is just a theory” online to downplay the validity of evolution, giving the impression that it is merely an idea scientists came up with. Therefore, some people suggest replacing the word “theory” with “law” in evolutionary theory to prevent confusion among non-scientists.
Understanding Scientific Theories
Evolutionary theory is indeed an established scientific theory, but does it qualify as a scientific law?
Scientific Theories:
- The word theory entered the English language in the late sixteenth century, originally meaning conception, mental scheme, or speculation. However, the arts and sciences began using the word in the seventeenth century with a different meaning.
- Contrary to popular belief, in science, a theory is not the best-educated guess scientists have about a certain natural phenomenon. On the contrary, a scientific theory is a well-confirmed type of explanation of nature, consistent with modern scientific methods.
- A scientific theory is a framework for observations and facts in the natural world. It not only addresses existing scientific data but also makes predictions. Scientific theories are repeatedly tested and confirmed through experiments or observations.
Examples of Scientific Theories:
- Cell Theory
- The Theory of Gravity
- General Relativity
- Evolutionary Theory
Understanding Scientific Laws
Scientific Laws:
- A scientific law is a statement describing what always happens under certain conditions, often expressible as mathematical equations.
Examples of Scientific Laws:
- Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Archimedes’ Principle
- Laws of Thermodynamics
Evolutionary Law?
It is important to note that scientific theories do not graduate to become scientific laws. They serve different purposes—laws describe what happens, while theories explain how and why it happens.
Evolution in Biological Context
Evolutionary theory explains how a certain scientific fact works. That fact, evolution, is the third law of biology:
- First Law of Biology: All living organisms obey the laws of thermodynamics.
- Second Law of Biology: All living organisms consist of membrane-encased cells.
- Third Law of Biology: All living organisms arose through an evolutionary process.
In conclusion, while evolutionary theory is a robust and well-supported explanation of the process of evolution, it does not need to be labeled a “law” to signify its importance or validity in the scientific community.
#Evolution #NaturalSelection #Genetics
