What do you think of someone with a bachelors in math who still thinks evolution is "just a theory"?

Question

Personally, I think they would have to be delusional.

Answer 1

I would say that that's a person who may understand math, but does not understand science ... *AT ALL*.



The phrase "just a theory" is meaningless in science. It doesn't get any better than theory. You "prove" theorems in mathematics ... you don't "prove" theories in science.



In science, the word "theory" means an *EXPLANATION* of facts. It is a higher honor than the word "fact" ... because science is ultimately not about searching for facts, but about searching for *EXPLANATIONS* for facts.



So a "theory" is the Holy Grail of science.



To say that evolution is "just a theory" is like saying that the theory of gravity is "just a theory", or the theory of atoms is "just a theory." It's like saying that Hamlet is "just a play", or Moby Dick is "just a novel."

Answer 2

In science, a theory is the highest level an idea can reach & so to have your idea reach that level is an honor. It means that the idea has been confirmed over & over again by observable evidence. It is not a guess.



In science, a guess is a hypothesis. All theories begin as hypotheses and if they stand the test of time & experimentation, they become theories.



It's important to realize that theories can be modified through further study which is why we don't refer to them as absolute fact.



In the scientific realm, evolution IS a theory - it has been confirmed over & over again as the best scientific explanation for the biodiversity we see today & the genetic relationships that exist between organisms.



However, like a person doesn't have to believe in Buddhism to learn about it, a person doesn't have to believe a scientific theory to understand it.

Answer 3

The word 'Theory' means something different in the Academic community than it does in everyday language.



A theory is anything that can be observed and tested through an experiment. In no way is it the Antonym of the word "Fact"



Wikipedia (see sources) gives the example that, while it is a fact that an apple dropped can be observed to fall towards the center of the earth, and the theories commonly used to describe such motion are the "Theory of Gravity" and "The General Theory of Relativity".



In short, Gravity and Evoloution are academic Theories. That means they are likely to be fact unless the theory is scientifically disproven (and then it no longer becomes a theory)



(This differs from LAWs which are universally and always true, though Laws are usually only found in mathematics and chemestry, rather than physics and biology.)

Answer 4

Evolution IS just a theory, and there is a lot of evidence to support it. But there are still many holes in it.



Unfortunately too many people take evolutionary theory as though it were the absolute end-all be-all of explanations. Its not, and there are still many many unanswered questions and holes to the evolutionary theory.



Gravity, too, is "just a theory" and it's clear that we do not understand everything about gravity, yet a lot of evidence supports it. However, even if our theory of gravitation turns out to be completely wrong, that still does not dismiss the existance of gravity, which would then require a different explanation.



Same goes for evolution, even if the current theory of evolution is all wet, that does not negate the process of evolution.



Try to understand that a theory is just the best MODEL that humankind can make for a natural process, as supported by the various evidence and observations we make. A theory is useful if it helps us to make predictions about future events based on the theory. To this end our current theory of evolution is lacking in its ability to make long range predictions, but can be very useful in making "small" or short term predictions.

Answer 5

I think they should probably stick to Math and forget a productive career in crossing disciplines. It's unfortunate when individuals that are good at Math aren't good at anything else because the entire universe is a huge mathematical model. We need bright people to fill the role as mathematicians and unfortunately the individual with the degree may have taken the place of someone who could have truly used the education.

Answer 6

Have you ever looked up the word "theory" in the dictionary?



Dictionary.com:



the·o·ry Audio Help /ˈθiəri, ˈθɪəri/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[thee-uh-ree, theer-ee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–noun, plural -ries. 1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.





Merriam/Webster

Main Entry: the·o·ry

Pronunciation: \ˈthē-ə-rē, ˈthir-ē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural the·o·ries

Etymology: Late Latin theoria, from Greek theōria, from theōrein

Date: 1592



1: the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another





The person with the bachelors in math is completely correct....evolution IS "just a theory."



Gravity is also "just a theory."



~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Avid bibliophile over 35 years

Answer 7

Math is way different than biology. Math deals with abstract ideas and manipulations, whereas biology studies what has been and what is now.



And evolution IS a theory. The modifier "just" makes me think this person has little respect for peer-reviewed science.

Answer 8

Evolution is "just a theory." So is gravity, atomic structure, etc. Evolution, however, has more experimental support than virtually any other theory in science.

Answer 9

Darwin and others postulated the Theory of evolution, survival of the fittest etc. However I do not remember it ever being taught as fact. Because of time constraints it is not possible to prove it in an experiment. Unless you know of an experimental proof??? However your mathematician can express with 100% certainty that1+1=2

Answer 10

I would consider them not an expert in any way of the sciences.



Anyone who studies science knows what a theory is.



The phrase "just a theory" belies a person's knowledge of the sciences.

Answer 11

That they have not learned to use the English language properly. No theory in science is "just" a theory.

Answer 12

Well, if mathematics was their primary area of study, then it stands to reason that they might be somewhat ignorant of other areas of academics. However, if a biology major rejected evolution...

Answer 13

Snort! Totally delusional!

Answer 14

Evolution is just a theory.



They have thousands of facts to back it up but without being able to absolutely prove it then its just a theory.

Answer 15

- they haven't learned the scientific meaning of "theory"



-they should have taken more science classes



-and the belief of this person would have to effect my view of his college and his degree

Answer 16

I'd think he didn't take any biology courses.

Answer 17

I'd think they were entitled to their opinion and I'd get on with my life.

Answer 18

evolution is a theory and it's stupid the bible say's we were made from dust not animals