Not just in Kansas, Anymore....

[John R. Grehan]

The recent documentation by Richard Pyle on the evolution question included
assertions by Futuyma that there is more to a good scientific hypothesis
than corroboration, it must be falsifiable. He then asserts that a single
undisputed fossil of a flowering plant or human etc in Precambrain rocks
would do it.

This perspective contradicts the view expressed by Futuyma that biologists
consider evolution as a fact and he describes it as a 'historical fact. If
it is a 'fact' it can't be falsified! Futuyma seems to go against the view
that evolution is a fact by asserting that it is a good hypothesis. It
seems to me that Futuyma is confused on this matter, which would not
surprise me as the fact/theory dichotomy seems to me like a quagmire. No
wonder the general public has problems with it.

Another view I would suggest is that evolution, as a research program, is
not falsifiable. Any contractions (such as mentioned above) may be resolved
simply by creating ad hoc hypothesis in defence of the initial position.
This is a time honored tradition in science and it protects a research
program from prematurely giving up in the face of contradictory 'facts'
(acknowledging all facts are theory laden in the first place).

John