Philosophy of Science for Nursing Practice by Dahnke Michael D.;Dreher H. Michael;H Michael Dreher Phd Rn;

Author:Dahnke, Michael D.;Dreher, H. Michael;H Michael Dreher Phd, Rn;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company, Incorporated
Published: 2011-03-24T00:00:00+00:00

Theory and Reality

Evolution is only a theory. It is not a fact.

STATE OF OKLAHOMA, 2003,HOUSE BILL HB 1504

JUST A THEORY

“But isn't evolution just a theory?” It is not unusual to hear such a question when the subject of evolution arises. It is an interesting question, as there is much implied behind it. First of course it is largely intended as a rhetorical question and hence not a real question but an implicit statement: “Evolution is just a theory.” If we remove the word “just,” it becomes a relatively trivial statement, as it is common knowledge that evolution is a biological theory. “Just” is clearly an important word in this statement then. It implies a lack of something, a “mere-ness,” being less than in some way. Less than what? When prodded, the answer provided is that it is merely a theory rather than a “fact.” The word “fact” carries a lot of weight, holds an elevated sense of epistemic significance, whereas the word “theory” for many people seems to hold little epistemic significance. Part of the problem is the equivocal nature of the term “theory” in colloquial English. It is used in various fields and studies and likely can be given a unique definition for its use within each. For some reason the epistemically weaker senses of these seem to stick with many in the nonscientific world, leaving them to conceive of scientific theory as nothing more than speculation, a guess, an unsupported “just-so” story.

On the other hand, “facts” are seen by many as epistemically superior, as true in an absolute sense. Of course, many don't recognize that “fact” is a highly equivocal term in our language. One interesting difference in meaning is that at times it is understood, as alluded above, as referring to that which is true and as referring to that which actually exists. At other times, it can be understood to refer to what is merely alleged to be true and to exist, but in actuality may or may not. Even if we univocally accept the former sense as the meaning of “fact,” other problems arise. To say that a fact is true or refers to what actually exists is merely an analytic truth; it is true by definition. What such a claim elides is what the appropriate or adequate means of determining what does and what does not qualify as a fact. Without such an understanding, the accusation that a theory is just a theory and not a fact is vacuous.

But not only vacuous, such an accusation is also misguided, as it appears to misconceive or misinterpret the meaning of terms like “fact” and “theory” within the contexts of scientific investigation and scientific knowledge. Within the context of science, those things usually referred to as “facts,” are actually not very interesting. “Facts” are typically observations. They are particular and limited: On such and such a date at such and such a time water boiled at 100°C at sea level. A fact such as this tells us nothing about water in general, how it will behave at other times in other places.

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