The Nature of Proof
August 7th, 2006 Central Archivist Posted in Commentary |
WE VETERANS OF THE CREVO WARS often hear creationists triumphantly crow, “evolution is just a theory; it’s never been proved!” Well, it’s true evolution has never been proved — indeed, nothing in science is ever proved. Proof is something that can only be found in the realms of mathematics. And, even then, proof might equal “True” but it doesn’t necessarily equal “Correct.”
For instance, take the following proof:
A cashew is a nut.
All nuts are purple.
Cashews are purple.
The above statement is “True.” The conclusion follows from the premises, so therefore we have proved cashews are purple. However, our proof does not match up to the real world (cashews are kind of a beige color).
Just something to consider next time a creationist demands “proof.”
Â
August 8th, 2006 at 10:50 am
and in the same breath, educate them about what the term “theory” means in the contect of science
August 8th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
One impossible task at a time, please
August 15th, 2006 at 11:29 am
And the famous undistributed middle:
MAJOR PREMISE: All men are mortal.
MINOR PREMISE: Socrates is a man.
CONCLUSION: I am Socrates!