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To: Dimensio

Bad definitions good enough?

No. Bad definitions can create ambiguity if their specific meaning in context is not clear, however a bad definition cannot itself falsify a concept.<<

You're right. It won't falsify a concept, but does mean you literally don't KNOW what you are talking about. Epistemology hurts.


What is a species? A species is a reproductively isolated population. Ambiguity in the definition of species is the result of attempting to draw rigid barriers on populations of organisms when the various organisms being classified into "species" became diverse through a gradual process. This in no way is problematic for the theory of evolution.<<

Ambiguity in a definition is NEVER good for a scientific explanation. Ambiguity in a central definition in a theory is even worse for a theory.

Reproductive isolation depends on KNOWING isolation occurs. It is a much higher standard than biologists can apply in the real world. Either in bones from the past, or current species there is no island, continent, nor ocean that biologists can can claim with reasonable certainty is isolated. Life finds a way.

What is a theory vs. fact?

A theory is a general explanation of the cause behind observed phenomenon. A fact is a singular data point, typically derived from a single definition.<<

Evolutionist make the claim it is a theory and a fact. Bad definitions again. Crappy science.

Why do evolutionists desire extremely LOOSE definitions of all three?

I see nothing "loose" about the definitions that I have provided.<<

Precisely. See "Black Box" below and then reread your definition of theory.

I won't bother to comment on the unquantifiable Darwinian "Black Box".

If you believe that a point can be made from it, then you should. Otherwise, I fail to see that you have made a point.<<

The Black Box stuff avoids actually having to explain a phemonemon. By your own definitions, it defies being a theory. Crappy science.

This is not true. In addition to understanding the history of life on earth, principles of the theory of evolution can be applied to real-world issues, including antibiotic research and agriculture.<<

Evolutionists love to overstate the importance of the "theory/fact". Again, if you mean principles like "things change" and it is a "Black Box", that is hardly useful. What major applications depend on a ToE in either antibiotic research or agriculure? Or is it good geneticists doing their work in specific, articulable, and scientfic ways with Evolutionists highjacking the credit?

I do not see that scientific standards are not currently applied to evolution. If you have evidence to the contrary, I will listen.<<

Evolution is political science.


DK


89 posted on 03/08/2006 7:32:35 PM PST by Dark Knight
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To: Dark Knight
You're right. It won't falsify a concept, but does mean you literally don't KNOW what you are talking about. Epistemology hurts.

This is not always the case. It may simply be a lack of communication, where the speaker understand what they mean, but they are unsuccessful in communicating the ideas to others.

Ambiguity in a definition is NEVER good for a scientific explanation.

In this case the ambiguity is simply a consequence of biology not conforming to rigid standards, which is a result of evolution. However, even in the rare cases where "species" becomes ambiguous, there are still means of making distinctions, such as what occurs with "ring species".

Ambiguity in a central definition in a theory is even worse for a theory.

True, however there is no ambiguity in a "central definition" in the theory of evolution.

Reproductive isolation depends on KNOWING isolation occurs.

I do not understand what point you are trying to make. There are known instances of reproductive isolation.

It is a much higher standard than biologists can apply in the real world.

Could you substantiate this assertion?

Either in bones from the past, or current species there is no island, continent, nor ocean that biologists can can claim with reasonable certainty is isolated. Life finds a way.

You are suggesting that a concept in science is not known with complete certainty. This is a meaningless statement, however, because it is true of all concepts in science.

Evolutionist make the claim it is a theory and a fact. Bad definitions again. Crappy science.

Again, this is not a failing of the theory, but rather a failing of those who make the statement without further qualifying it. Evolution as a "fact" refers to the observed events of alelle frequency changes over time. Evolution as a "theory" refers to the body of knowledge explaining common descent of all existing species from common ancestry.

Precisely. See "Black Box" below and then reread your definition of theory.

Very well.

The Black Box stuff avoids actually having to explain a phemonemon. By your own definitions, it defies being a theory. Crappy science.

Evolutionists love to overstate the importance of the "theory/fact".

How do you mean?

Again, if you mean principles like "things change" and it is a "Black Box", that is hardly useful.

I do not understand what you mean by those two phrases, especially "Black Box".

What major applications depend on a ToE in either antibiotic research or agriculure?

Understanding evolution of bacteria is very important for doctors working with antibiotics. The implications for agriculture can be employed to apply specific reproductive pressures to encourage the emergence of traits in the majority of a population of a specific crop.

Or is it good geneticists doing their work in specific, articulable, and scientfic ways with Evolutionists highjacking the credit?

If you believe that any credit is being "hijacked", I would ask you to provide specific examples.

Evolution is political science.

This is an assertion, not an example.
90 posted on 03/08/2006 9:21:55 PM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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