Is Evolution a Scientific Theory? What qualifies a theory as a scientific theory?
According to the Encyclopedia of Scientific Principles, Laws, and Theories, a scientific theory, such as Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity, must meet 3 criteria:
1. Be observable
2. Be reproducible by controlled experiments
3. Make accurate predictions
In that light, where does evolution stand?1 Its operation cannot be observed. It cannot be reproduced. And it cannot make accurate predictions. Can evolution even be considered a scientific hypothesis? The same encyclopedia defines a hypothesis as “a more tentative observation of facts [than a theory],” yet lends itself “to deductions that can be experimentally tested.” (1)
(1) By “evolution,” we mean “macroevolution”—apes turning into humans, for example. “Microevolution” refers to small changes within a species, perhaps through selective breeding.
Awake —June, 2015