Hi,
I read this thread with a degree of amusement..as a science teacher I have to teach the theories of:
evolution....darwinism....lamarkism...creationism...and intelligent design...then get the kids to compare and contrast each one....no wonder they seem confused when they leave my room......but they have all the facts....ooops I mean 'theories'!:D
Crabapple xx
Oh, I see, looking back. It was actually Boson Higgs who hadn't put an endquote on his quote of Muzone. So my quote of the whole was hard to follow. I've now put in Higgs's missing endquote. 🙂 This is in post 25.
And I've corrected Boson Higgs' post #21 to effect the same. Should hopefully all read a little clearer now. 😉
Hi,
I read this thread with a degree of amusement..as a science teacher I have to teach the theories of:
evolution....darwinism....lamarkism...creationism...and intelligent design...then get the kids to compare and contrast each one....no wonder they seem confused when they leave my room......but they have all the facts....ooops I mean 'theories'!:D
Crabapple xx
That's quite a list, and it's revealing that there is such a longish list, not just evolution. The list is even longer. Not that these would be taught in school, but I actually give the ideas credence (no need to dial 999 for me :p): I would add a sixth - alien cross-breeding with earlier homanids (given that untold thousands of people cross-culturally report alien abductions and impregnations and a later taking of the unborn hybrid, which become better-recalled memories under hypnosis) - and a seventh - given the theory that there have been long-lost previously advanced human civilisations, now forgotten but in myth, ancient cloning by humans. Are some species man-made? (Why is it that, as we are told, pigs are closer to man all-round than any other creature? Are they a bizarre ancient experiment?)
So that's six theories on top of evolution. Perhaps none of them are exclusive, but the true story could be a mix over time of a number of them? 😎
V
The fact of the matter
I'd just like to point out that there is a common delusion that a fact is something that is objectively true or beyond refute in any way whatsoever. A fact is merely something that becomes accepted as being true. Sometimes what were thought to be "facts" are found to be not quite as factual as they once were thought to be.
The only fact that is beyond refute, is that all facts are best guesses, based on available evidence, theory and knowledge base of the society that deems a statement to be beyond question. This is a product of convention of the society that holds any given statement to be true.
However all conventional statements do not have the same value. For example if it was claimed that human beings were descended from aliens interbreeding with early hominids, our society would consider that there was limited evidence for this theory and not give it much credence. Generally those who would claim this theory to be factual would not be taken very seriously. On the other hand the claim that humans have evolved from early hominids would generally be considered to be a theory that is well supported by sound interpretation of the available evidence. In fact, in all but sections of the population that have strongly opposing beliefs supported by little evidence, the theory that evolution has taken place would be considered "fact" on the basis of the evidence and knowledge base built by our culture's scientific exploration of the world in which we find ourselves.
There ain't no such thing as objective truth... even if reality isn't just a product of some kind of mass hysteria. I know it's out there, but I've still no idea what on earth it it really is.
Norbu
And I've corrected Boson Higgs' post #21 to effect the same. Should hopefully all read a little clearer now. 😉
You mean you deleted it!
Every picture tells a story.
:rolleyes: