Why is evolution considered a theory? ?
The word ‘theory’ does not mean “not a fact.” They are not opposites, or “degrees of truth.” The word ‘theory’ in science means *explanation for facts*. The same applies to the theory of gravity, the cell theory of of biology, the germ theory of disease, the heliocentric theory (that the sun is the center of the solar system, not the earth), atomic theory, molecular theory, the photon theory of light, electron theory, the big bang theory, the theory of plate tectonics, quantum theory, the theory of relativity, and on and on. Every one of those is accepted with overwhelming confidence by the world’s scientific community. And so is the theory of evolution. These are all called ‘theories’ … and always will be … not because scientists are not sure about them … but because they all are excellent *explanations for facts*. ======= That said, the word ‘evolution’ is the name for BOTH a theory and a FACT. (This is not unusual. The word ‘gravity’ is also BOTH a theory and a fact.) The FACT
It’s considered a theory because it is a theory. You are aware that scientific theories are as good as it gets, right? They don’t “graduate” into laws, or get proven. They get used, and when they predict things which don’t happen they get revised or tossed out. This has not happened with evolution, so it’s considered one of the most robust, useful theories in all of science.
