Books, Brochures, and Chapters>Book: Gould , Stephen Jay , Evolution as fact and theory, Retrieved on 2012-04-13Source Material [books.google.com]
Memes
13 APR 2012
Fact, Theory, and Understanding
Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts do not go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's, but apples did not suspend themselves in mid-air, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from apelike ancestors whether they did s...Stephen J. Gould on science's evolving understanding of the Truth.