Do you accept Evolution? Why or Why not

[highwaystar101]

Sqrl said:

highwaystar101 said:

How is that opinion different to anyone else's who accepts it?

You can "accept" a theory and know it is not complete or accounts for the bigger picture.

I don't think anyone accepts evolution in its current form, I certainly don't. Granted, evolution is a proven fact, we know it occurs. However, despite how well supported by evidence it is we do not have a full understanding of it yet; and I doubt anyone would claim we do.

Like nearly all theories, evolution is an area of active research as we're constantly attempting to refine the theory and understand it better. If in the future a new theory replaces evolution due to new evidence, I can guarantee one thing, It will have to take into account the massive amounts of evidence that has been generated so far. So in its current form I can accept it, even though I know in the future it will change, whether that change is small or large.

So whenever someone asks whether I "accept" a theory I believe is the best we have I will say yes, more or less because I believe the theory is well supported and is heading in the right direction.

 

(I'm on the verge of falling asleep so my post may not make much sense. If it doesn't I apologise in advance)

@yellow,

You certainly came off as tired, but I get where you were going =)

Anyways, I wasn't so much troubled by the degree of certainty expressed in regards to the theory as I was the lack of expressed understanding on the part of the "acceptor".  It is more along the lines that I don't think of myself as having accepted evolution the same way you might say someone "accepts his fate". 

In other words my point was more that I understand the theory of evolution and believe it to be our best effort at understanding the process to date, I don't just accept that what I've been told of the theory is true or probably true or even close enough....I looked at it and determined it for myself.

In short, I place I great deal of emphasis on personal understanding and really dislike the concept of one individual outsourcing their views of science to the mind of another individual.  Obviously people can't investigate all scientific claims but I believe those claims that interest or effect someone personally should be.

PS - Like I said, the casual sense of the word "accept" is close enough =P

@ Yellow - Red. Haha, don't worry. I said at the beginning I don't accept it in it's current form. The second part and the red text was attempting to explain how it can be accepted with the knowledge that the current form is "incorrect" but also realise it will be refined into a more accurate and correct theory in the future... But I can see where the confusion came from, I didn't express it very well.

@ Post - That's fair enough, personal understanding is key when reading about a scientific theory. The ability to independently critique theories/hypotheses is the mark of a good researcher. All I know is that I have looked at a lot of evidence and know that whatever comes after the current evolution theory will have to account for all we have learned to be true about the theory so far, which is a lot so it would at least bear fair resemblance. But that's just what I think.