by James Kellard

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: June 07, 2009

The argument over the validity of evolution and creationism is often a misguided and misinformed one. The main argument by proponents of creationism that they claim negates the theory of evolution is that it is just that, a theory. The problem with this is they are assuming the term "theory" refers to the layman's meaning, in other words it is just speculation. For instance, I have a theory that Bigfoot lives in the Pyramids. This is speculation based on no fact whatsoever, and one could say that it is a theory. I can give my reasoning: Bigfoot exists but is elusive, the Pyramids were built thousands of years ago and have some sort of special powers, therefore those powers must be protecting the existence of Bigfoot. I am giving reasons to support my theory but these are based on no facts, only on what I personally believe.

Scientific theory has a completely different meaning. The term "theory" in science refers to a conclusion that is reached through extensive facts, observation, and/or experiments. While this may seem like a contradiction, evolution is both fact and theory (scientifically speaking). Simply put, the fact of evolution is that there are biological changes in organisms over time; the theory of evolution refers to the current scientific explanation as to how this happens. The theory of evolution (again using "theory" in scientific terms), is based on facts, observations, and testable evidence.

Scientifically speaking, a theory is something that has no acceptable alternative theories and no observations exist to falsify it. In order for a current scientific theory to be altered or for a new theory to emerge, new observations and evidence must be found that contradict the original point. Even with a new theory this does not negate the evidence of the previous theory, it only adds to it.

This is an extremely simplistic explanation of both evolution and scientific theory, but the greater point is that the existence of evolution is scientific fact and not in question (except by creationists). There are missing species in the evolutionary line, therefore creating the theory (again, scientifically speaking), of evolution. Anthropologists, archaeologists, and other scientists are discovering new species all the time, both living and extinct. Because the species has not been found yet does not mean it does not exist. For years it was thought that the giant squid was just the story of legends until one was discovered only a few years ago. Even with the

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