should the scientific community change the word "theory"?

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Permalink Reply by Dan Allosso on March 14, 2013 at 6:47pm

But aren't we talking about whether or not to change perfectly straightforward language, in order to address an objection that isn't sincere in the first place?  People who attack reason with "it's only a theory" know full well what we're talking about.  There's no confusion -- it's just a rhetorical tactic.  So why change? 

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Permalink Reply by matthew greenberg on March 14, 2013 at 6:52pm

i wish i agreed with you.  i feel pretty confident that most of those who make that stupid assertion truly believe it.  they're quite ignorant in matters of science.  

Permalink Reply by Dorian Moises Mattar on March 14, 2013 at 7:30pm

I hope not, otherwise, what is the point at all.

Permalink Reply by Jim DePaulo on February 27, 2013 at 4:31pm

Perhaps it's confusing the concept of theory and processes is the problem. A process is a definable,  observable and testable way in which a biological system works.  For example Metabolism, Ecological succession, cell replication and Evolution.  The theory of evolution should be the theories of the evolutionary process - theories about specific aspects of the process - continuous or punctuated evolution  or both. 

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on February 27, 2013 at 4:41pm

I always thought that what it a theory was natural selection.

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Permalink Reply by matthew greenberg on February 27, 2013 at 4:48pm

i'm not sure if you're right but it's the best idea (assuming you favor a change in nomenclature) that i've heard yet.

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Permalink Reply by Dorian Moises Mattar on February 26, 2013 at 3:38pm

So because the engineering community knows a scientific term that is confusing to everyone else, we can't create a term for the common individual?

Do we go around calling people homo sapiens?

We can obviously keep the scientific term, but a common term MUST be created or we will continue to be looked at as if we don't know what we are talking about.

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Permalink Reply by Susan Stanko on February 26, 2013 at 4:00pm

Yeah, because it's not like any new term we create wont be misused or anything.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on February 26, 2013 at 6:04pm

Dorian,

With all due respect...

Sure, you can make something up. "Theorem" is as good as anything else. Just don't expect scientists to begin using the same term. The word "hypothesis" and "theory" have worked just fine within their community. That non-scientists can't seem to wrap their head around the concept is not the fault of the scientists. They have a magic book, with a magic daddy who told them what to believe. It isn't going to make any difference what you call it or how well you explain the science.

It's actually fun speculating what would happen with yet another new term the fundies could twist to their advantage (or as I see it, expose us to their ignorance). I can see it now, "Look at those idiot scientists. If they'd only put their faith in Jebuz they wouldn't be so confused. They even doubled down by coming up with a new word for their lies." They would stop saying the word theory meant "I made it all up" and start saying the word theorem meant "I made it all up, they didn't believe me so I had to give it an even more pompous name to make it sound truthier".

 

I like what Dawkins has done for the non-theists. I've learned quite a lot about atheism, genetics and evolution from him by reading his books. I believe he's wrong on this one though. If scientists have done anything wrong, it's not that they're using the wrong terms. It's that they haven't been assertive enough in trying to plainly explain the reasoning behind their theories. Some of them have been trying as of late but they're awful late to the party.

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Permalink Reply by Dorian Moises Mattar on February 26, 2013 at 6:11pm

Hi Greg,

I doNOT to change the scientific term.  We simply need a common term, i.e. Homo Sapiens (scientific) / Human (common).  That's all I'm saying.

We have been going back and forth here between educated people, now imagine trying with someone without an education.  It would be futile.

We can speculate about the outcome of it, but as we stand, we almost have nothing to loose and much to gain.

I agree with your last statement 100%  Way to late!  But let's hope that it's not too late...

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Permalink Reply by Pat on February 2, 2012 at 11:39am

Change the word? No.

It wouldn't matter what you changed it to.Those who refuse to accept legitimate scientific evidence are not going to accept it over a change in vocabulary. It wouldn't matter what you changed it to. Some tambourine banging, anti-intellectual theist would twist the new term and make things up about it (e.g. "LIE" like they always do), and then rationalists would worry about the next term to use. Change it, and you've given up ground to those who want to drag us back into medieval superstition.

Loren is correct. Call them out on it, and let everyone know what ignorant and dangerous nonsense they are peddling. 

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Permalink Reply by Jude Johnson on February 2, 2012 at 11:45am

Yes, it is so aggravating!

I've done as Loren has suggested many times. I ask if they accept the theories of gravity and mathematics. I tell them that the layman's definition is not at all the same as the scientific definition. I explain that the theory must be supported by proven facts, etc, etc...

It always falls on deaf ears. We'll likely never stop hearing that alternate "theories" should be taught alongside the theory of evolution. The only people who accept the difference are those who already accept evolution.

It's interesting that Wiktionary actually addresses our concerns specifically:

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In scientific discourse, the sense “unproven conjecture” is discouraged (with hypothesis or conjecture preferred), due to unintentional ambiguity and intentional equivocation with the sense “well-developed statement or structure”. This is particularly found with reference to the “theory of evolution”, which opponents disparage with “it’s just a theory [conjecture]”, while proponents retort that in this context, theory means instead “well-developed, well-established”.

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As Loren said, I don't really think a new term will help the situation. From my experience, the folks who misuse it are so close-minded and ignorant that it seems nothing can sink in. If people are determined to believe the earth is flat, not even a trip around the world can cure them.

On the bright side:

Even here in Indiana (where almost everyone I know is a theist), I've confirmed that I've changed the way some people think about atheists. While they're still believers, they no longer think atheists are immoral or evil. When a catholic coworker told me so last week, I responded, "So you no longer think it's ridiculous that some people don't believe in a set of ideas for which there is no proof whatsoever." He smiled and confirmed.

Baby steps...

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