Two Second Memory

There is much said in the name of a theory. So I just want to clarify the different meanings and their uses of the word theory. There are two main meanings: the vernacular and the “science” definition.

In the vernacular the general meaning of theory is conjecture; something that is speculated, I could easily say “I have a theory that the sun is blue”. Now I might have pulled this out of my arse but it is a valid use of the word theory and I will get labeled (justifiably so) a crank if I start peddling “theories” like that.

In science a theory is a “logical explanation” or a “testable model” (both quotes from the mighty wikipedia). So if I say “I’ve got this mathematical theory that says the sun is blue” it would be wrong. There is no testable model that says the sun is blue (well this isn’t strictly true as there is a component of the sun’s light that is blue but sunlight, if measured across the full spectrum of visible light, is generally considered to be white).

The people who believe in creationism and “Intelligent design” are being very disingenuous when they say evolution is only a theory. They are applying the vernacular meaning to the scientific theory of evolution. As such they should (justifiably) be called cranks.

Just though I’d try and clear that up! For a longer discussion on this, as always, see wikipedia.

Filed by rgh at 21:23 under General
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