Replies

"My post was quite clear."

Really? Let's examine it again:

"So what would you call embracing one interpretation over another?

Of course.

And there are varying theories depending on one's interpretation of the data. So you choose to either believe one interpretation of the data, or you choose to believe another. It is belief.

I realize that for evols, that's a terrifying word, so they avoid it like the plague. Seems quite irrational to me."

Let's examine it logically:

In standard form, you stated:

1) A belief is "embracing one interpretation over another."
2) Evolutionary theory is such an interpretation
3) Therefore, evolutionary theory is a belief.

This is fallacious however because, in 1 (the premise) you misdefined belief. A belief is the strong acceptance in the truth of a proposition, usually with little to no evidence. Since scientists do not hold a strong acceptance or a conviction in the truth of a proposition (evolution) and do not ever claim that evolution is true absolutely, it is not a belief. Let me show you:

1) A belief is the strong acceptance in the truth of a proposition, usually with little to no evidence
2) A scientific theory is a proposition
3) The principle of tentavity prohibits strong acceptance in a scientific theory to be held as true with absolute certitude, to allow for revision and self-correction
4) Scientific theories contain multiple lines of genuine positive evidence, as defined by their criteria
5) Evolutionary theory is such a scientific theory
6) Scientists do not accept evolution as true with absolute certitude according to the principle of tentativity
7) Evolutionary theory as a scientific theory, by definition, contains multiple lines of genuine positive evidence
8) Evolutionary theory is therefore not a belief

Evolutionary theory is accepted as *accurate* not as true with absolute certitude.

"If you don't get it now, you never will. (Although I suspect you get it and are pretending not to.)"

Not really. You made a fallacious claim.

"Have a nice day."

Thank you very much. I wish you as well a good day.