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To: Coyoteman

OK, so the students should be taught that the T of E is a theory, and not proven beyond all doubt. What they are teaching now in many school systems is that Darwin's theory is definitely what happened.


229 posted on 03/07/2006 5:44:51 PM PST by Hill of Tara ("The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.")
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To: Hill of Tara
OK, so the students should be taught that the T of E is a theory, and not proven beyond all doubt.

Perhaps students should be taught the nature of science, in which case pointing out that the ToE is "not proven beyond all doubt" would be unnecessary, as students would understand that nothing in science is ever "proven beyond all doubt".
232 posted on 03/07/2006 5:47:54 PM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: Hill of Tara
OK, so the students should be taught that the T of E is a theory, and not proven beyond all doubt.

Could you please give your definition of "theory"?

You might want to then compare it with the definition as used by scientists.

238 posted on 03/07/2006 5:52:04 PM PST by Amelia (Education exists to overcome ignorance, not validate it.)
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To: Hill of Tara
OK, so the students should be taught that the T of E is a theory, and not proven beyond all doubt. What they are teaching now in many school systems is that Darwin's theory is definitely what happened.

If you look at the definition I posted for "theory" you will note that it begins with:

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena.

In science, this means that the theory has been tested against the known facts, and that it has passed those tests. It also implies that the theory has produced predictions, and that those predictions have been verified. This is the explanation that currently best explains the data.

This does not mean the theory is correct, or that is is proved or that it is fact, but that it has passed the tests I mentioned. This follows the scientific method.

What the proponents of ID are asking scientists to do is accept unverified beliefs as being equivalent to well-substantiated scientific theory. In a science class that is not an acceptable alternative. There is no "teach the controversy" or "teach both theories" as ID has not yet been able to establish itself as a part of science, nor does it follow the methods of science.

Would you care to guess the percentage of their annual budget that the Discovery Institute spends on public relations vs. actually doing science?

240 posted on 03/07/2006 5:55:05 PM PST by Coyoteman (I love the sound of beta decay in the morning!)
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