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Stressing the term "theory" by creationists attacking evolution is a rhetorical device intended to imply that "even scientists don't know". Obviously, scientis
by pcrh 12y ago
Stressing the term "theory" by creationists attacking evolution is a rhetorical device intended to imply that "even scientists don't know".
Obviously, scientists, and other educated people, know that this attack is misguided.
However, recognizing that such arguments are indeed rhetorical, rather than logical, is a step towards not having to go through them again and again...
- scott_s 12y agoI'm making a different point. People who make that attack have a fundamental misunderstanding of how science works. They don't understand that it is not possible to prove a theory correct, only falsify it. They don't understand that quantity and quality of supporting evidence matter. They don't understand the difference between "proof" and "evidence". They don't understand that their arguments could be levied against any scientific theory, including ones that they accept. That they can do this means they don't understand how science works. But, nor do a lot of people who don't make such rhetorical attacks. I think that the philosophy of science is an easy thing to miss - it's possible to make it through a Bachelor's program in science without really being forced to think about it.
- pcrh 12y ago>They don't understand that their arguments could be levied against any scientific theory, including ones that they accept. That they can do this means they don't understand how science works. Exactly, which is why epistemological arguments won't win the evolution versus creation debate.