Why is the theory of evolution...still considered a theory?

[interminable]

Just to put in: it is not true that no Muslims accept evolution. There are substantial numbers who do, including various Islamic scholars.

Partly maybe they do that
But about human being never

 

[sayak83]

Instead please make lion and tiger as a shepherd can u????

A lion certainly can be made into a shepherd. You know from circus that lions can be very well trained.

All of your statements are nothing but mere claims

The evidence of evolution is presented in many good books, some them are free and others quite cheap. Once you look some up, we can discuss the specifics. The laws of evolution and the evidence for their various activities is as diverse and immense a topic as laws of physics and evidence for their various activities. You need to start somewhere. I can guide you if you tell me how much exposure to biology have you had before.

How smart is this evolution!!!!

Like all laws of nature its a pattern that creates structures large and small, simple and complex. Just like laws of gravity creates billions of suns throughout the galaxy from hydrogen gas, or the planet earth for that matter. We erroneously think that just because we need our smartness to understand these things, the cause of these phenomena and the patterns behind them are themselves smart. Logical fallacy this.

Ordained something that human being till now couldn't reveal it's whole secrets with their sharp brains

All of this is presupposition based in your religion. One can as well say Reality is eternally existent and has the properties and regularities it has by its own inherent nature (Buddhism, Daoism, atheism) or that God created the world by decreeing the laws of physics and biology including evolution (much of Judaism, Hinduism and some Christianity)

Let alone creating a fly

We have already created simple life in the lab. Needless to say we will create more complex one as our technology advances.

 

[Kirran]

Partly maybe they do that
But about human being never

This is not entirely true, views are mixed.

For example: here.

Also, at present 79% of Kazakhstanis, 30% of Pakistanis, 27% of Iraqis, 26% of Afghans, 25% of Turks, 78% of college-educated Lebanese etc accept the evolution of humans. These are overwhelmingly Muslim countries, with the exception to some degree of Lebanon which has a sizable Christian minority.

 

[interminable]

A lion certainly can be made into a shepherd. You know from circus that lions can be very well trained.


The evidence of evolution is presented in many good books, some them are free and others quite cheap. Once you look some up, we can discuss the specifics. The laws of evolution and the evidence for their various activities is as diverse and immense a topic as laws of physics and evidence for their various activities. You need to start somewhere. I can guide you if you tell me how much exposure to biology have you had before.



Like all laws of nature its a pattern that creates structures large and small, simple and complex. Just like laws of gravity creates billions of suns throughout the galaxy from hydrogen gas, or the planet earth for that matter. We erroneously think that just because we need our smartness to understand these things, the cause of these phenomena and the patterns behind them are themselves smart. Logical fallacy this.



All of this is presupposition based in your religion. One can as well say Reality is eternally existent and has the properties and regularities it has by its own inherent nature (Buddhism, Daoism, atheism) or that God created the world by decreeing the laws of physics and biology including evolution (much of Judaism, Hinduism and some Christianity)



We have already created simple life in the lab. Needless to say we will create more complex one as our technology advances.

If I could reject causality there is no need even to believe in evolution
I would believe in chance
The easiest way!!!

But if I couldn't reject causality I will never accept evolution since there are lots of portents that can prove the existence of God
I told u these things that u claim are nothing but mere claims

Although I have to confess that my English isn't good enough to read all of the books about this issue

Good night

 

[Kirran]

If I could reject causality there is no need even to believe in evolution
I would believe in chance
The easiest way!!!

But if I couldn't reject causality I will never accept evolution since there are lots of portents that can prove the existence of God
I told u these things that u claim are nothing but mere claims

Although I have to confess that my English isn't good enough to read all of the books about this issue

Good night

I believe in God and see no reason to reject evolution.

 

[Deidre]

No, we are not past the idea phase of the theory of evolution. It is supposition. Theory comes from philosophy and science is using that version, while adding to it, based on scientific understandings (really, additional philosophy). Theory generally means: a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained

The ToE supposition is based ultimately on faith in the physical world. Not religious faith, but high degree of confidence that the physical world exists as reality. Coupled with scientific understanding that this is the only reality we 'know' exists given that we can perceive that (more than one of us can/does). Once the fundamental faith, or axiom, or top level principle is accepted, what follows may be rational, or irrational (not following from previous principles, assumptions and evidence). ToE rests a lot on evidence. That evidence rests (ultimately) on faith.

If sticking exclusively to scientific understandings, faith need not be part of the discussion, and to those entrenched in the paradigm along lines of 'best method for discovering truth,' faith is close to insulting. Those, of us, who understand science is a branch of philosophy and address the philosophy, or even theosophy that science clearly utilizes, aren't so hung up what science thinks is indisputable fact. More like, it is considered entirely rational to scrutinize not just the so called evidence and principles, but the basis of scientific theory and scientific philosophy.

Now, this is intriguing. ''Faith'' in the physical world...
So you don't think we are past the ''idea phase'' of the theory of evolution, I have to digest this a little, and then think about a response. I think it's really interesting what you're saying but not sure that the ToE is pinned between science and philosophy. I always thought it was strictly scientific.

 

[Acim]

Now, this is intriguing. ''Faith'' in the physical world...
So you don't think we are past the ''idea phase'' of the theory of evolution, I have to digest this a little, and then think about a response. I think it's really interesting what you're saying but not sure that the ToE is pinned between science and philosophy. I always thought it was strictly scientific.

Science is a branch of philosophy. Historically, for sure. Today, not so much because of how much it has hijacked certain philosophical notions, made it into its own, and then (tried to) claim it is 'beyond mere philosophy.' For some that flies. For others, not even close.

Currently, I'm not even sure what 'scientific' means. Defining that would rest on philosophy, and to the degree it doesn't, it would be tautological.

 

[Deidre]

Science is a branch of philosophy. Historically, for sure. Today, not so much because of how much it has hijacked certain philosophical notions, made it into its own, and then (tried to) claim it is 'beyond mere philosophy.' For some that flies. For others, not even close.

Currently, I'm not even sure what 'scientific' means. Defining that would rest on philosophy, and to the degree it doesn't, it would be tautological.

Well....philosophy is defined as ''the study of a theoretical branch of knowledge, etc..'' Hmmm... lol

 

[ScottySatan]

Not sure if this is a silly question, but since we know that there exists plenty of viable information to support the theory of evolution, why is it still only considered a theory? Why isn't it a law? Or called something else? Theory implies a set of ideas that is supposing something to be true. Think we're past the idea phase of the theory of evolution, no?

I think it's because only physicists bother making laws. You'll notice that there are no laws of biology. There were a few things that came close in the 50's and 60's, like how all life is based on DNA as the heritable material, and another on how all life is composed of cells, how DNA becomes RNA becomes protein, but we found exceptions to those would-be laws. We realised that laws aren't worth it. There is much more uncertainty in biology than in physics or chemistry.

edited to add: I think that also reflects the way these types of scientists think. I find physicists to be extremely dogmatic. To break a law of physics would be unquestionable. But to say that an organism appears to be defying natural selection would not surprise a biologist at all.

 

[Skwim]

Seems I didn't know the meaning of this idiom
That guy used some bad words and because in discussions I don't use those words I thought he is impolite
That's why I told him watch your mouth

So what's the meaning of this idiom exactly??
Maybe in informal situation it has another meaning

"Watch your mouth" is commonly taken as an unfinished direct threat, as in "Watch your mouth or I'll knock your block off," or "Watch your mouth or you'll be staying after school and cleaning the blackboard." It almost always arises from anger to some degree or another.


.

 

[Skwim]

Well....philosophy is defined as ''the study of a theoretical branch of knowledge, etc..'' Hmmm... lol

Err, who's defining philosophy this way? If anything, the study of knowledge, epistemology, constitutes one of the branchs of philosophy.


.

 

[McBell]

I'm speechless

Your most intelligent post to date.

 

[Sapiens]

Whales have no intelligence

I guess I must hang out with a better pod of whales than you do.

YEAH
QURAN is like that because it doesn't coordinate your passions

If Quran said just believe in God and do whatever u want all people around the world were Muslims but practice is a hardest thing that a beliver can do

No the quran is like that because the quran is like that. Many things are that way and the quran is no different, just easier to see the errors in.

Are you one of those people who is wicked and evil at your core and who is held in check by the teachings of your book? There are christians like that too. Y'all should start a support group. I don't need it thanks, I understand the drive for altruism and the evolutionary basis for the golden rule ... you can keep your mythology, I can live a good and productive life without it.

Instead please make lion and tiger as a shepherd can u????
All of your statements are nothing but mere claims

How smart is this evolution!!!!

Ordained something that human being till now couldn't reveal it's whole secrets with their sharp brains

Let alone creating a fly

There is an English expression, "you can not make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" that applies here. If you have the wrong basic material then the final product is constrained. Felids make very poor shepherds because felids have evolved to be killing machines, that is why they must sleep so much ... if they were out in the environment more then they'd wreck their food supply.

Seems I didn't know the meaning of this idiom
That guy used some bad words and because in discussions I don't use those words I thought he is impolite
That's why I told him watch your mouth

So what's the meaning of this idiom exactly??
Maybe in informal situation it has another meaning

He did not use a "bad" word, he was simply impolite. I must say that I agree whole-heatedly with his sentiments though I might have phrased it a bit neater.

"Watch your mouth" is a rather aggressive response that carries an "understood" threat to commit some act of revenge if I do not comply, it is inappropriate in western culture since we cherish free speech and abjure the prevention of it through threats of violence..

 

[Parsimony]

I can't trust American statistics

So you think that the statistics were all made up and they weren't able to find even a single person who identified as a Muslim who accepted evolution? Please supply some evidence that the statistics were faked.

Besides isis(takfiri) groups call themselves Muslims but are they really Muslim????


And Quran's statement about creation of Adam from clay isn't something that can bear more than 2 meaning or interpretation

البقره
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know." (30)

This is another proof that befor the creation of Adam lived some living things like human that angels knew already about their activities

That would be for you to debate with those Muslims who accept evolution then. Regardless of what you think, there are many people who believe in both God and evolution (look up theistic evolution). They are easy enough to find even on this discussion board.

 

[Deidre]

Err, who's defining philosophy this way? If anything, the study of knowledge, epistemology, constitutes one of the branchs of philosophy.


.

If you type ''philosophy'' into a google search, it will be the first thing that pops up...and it's one of the definitions. I thought it was odd too tbh.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Not sure if this is a silly question, but since we know that there exists plenty of viable information to support the theory of evolution, why is it still only considered a theory? Why isn't it a law? Or called something else? Theory implies a set of ideas that is supposing something to be true. Think we're past the idea phase of the theory of evolution, no?

In science, "theory" doesn't mean "thing we aren't sure is true"; it means something like "comprehensive understanding that makes sense of a field and has good predictive value."

We don't use the word "law" to describe evolution as a whole because in science, "law" describes a simple relationship, usually one that can be expressed as a single equation.

BTW: there are many laws within the field of evolutionary science.

 

[Skwim]

If you type ''philosophy'' into a google search, it will be the first thing that pops up...and it's one of the definitions. I thought it was odd too tbh.

Did as you say and the first thing to pop up was

philosophy® Official Site - philosophy.com‎
Adwww.philosophy.com/‎
4.4 rating for philosophy.com
Shop Our Skin Care, Fragrance, Bath & Body Products Now. Buy Online!
​

which obviously is not what you're referring to. Second on the list is

"the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.".​

Nothing at all about "theoretical," like your

"Well....philosophy is defined as ''the study of a theoretical branch of knowledge, etc."
​

which I assume you simply got wrong.

.​

 

[Deidre]

Did as you say and the first thing to pop up was

philosophy® Official Site - philosophy.com‎
Adwww.philosophy.com/‎
4.4 rating for philosophy.com
Shop Our Skin Care, Fragrance, Bath & Body Products Now. Buy Online!​

hahaha!! Oops, that is technically the first thing to pop up.
​

which obviously is not what you're referring to. Second on the list is

"the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.".​

Nothing at all about "theoretical," like your

"Well....philosophy is defined as ''the study of a theoretical branch of knowledge, etc."
​

which I assume you simply got wrong.

.​

How did I get it wrong? I'm asking sincerely...

Not sure why I'm struggling to make sense of the term ''theory'' all of a sudden.

 

[Skwim]

​

How did I get it wrong? I'm asking sincerely...

Not sure why I'm struggling to make sense of the term ''theory'' all of a sudden.

Okay.

You said:

"philosophy is defined as ''the study of a theoretical branch of knowledge, etc"​

The site said:

"[Philosophy is] "the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline.".
​

Parsing them we have:

''the study of a theoretical"
"the study of the fundamental"
​

"A theoretical" is not the same as "the fundamental" And we have

"branch of knowledge"
"nature of knowledge,"
​

"Branch of knowledge" is not the same as "nature of knowledge,"

And, putting them together they don't mean the same thing as the original.


.

​

 

[Deidre]

When you write ''evolution'', it means any number of things. My belief, /for example, is that we are evolving into antelope type creatures. That's ''evolution''. ''Evolution'' is credited for the high success of the /cockroach, that wonderful creature, that is so well designed.
'evolution', also means, that ''humans'' evolved from other species/animals. ''Evolution'' also means, //according to evolutionists, really any thing taking place. So, it means...'anything', to some people.
By using the word ''evolution'', without telling us what you are referring to, it is pretty much meaningless, hence this ponderous thread. Now, if you say 'evolution', man evolved from other animals, theory, then you would have an actual thread topic.

Darwin's theory of evolution...I thought it was assumed that is what I was referring to.