Title: Is Evolution "Just a Theory"? | Psychology Today
Headings: Is Evolution "Just a Theory"?
Tania Lombrozo Ph.D.
Is Evolution "Just a Theory"?
Post #3 in a series for Darwin Day 2012

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If accepting evolution and understanding the nature of science don't have a common cause, then it could be that accepting evolution causes one to understand the nature of science, or (more plausibly) that understanding the nature of science has a causal impact on accepting evolution. But why would understanding – for example – that theories are revisable but reliable influence people's preferred explanations for the biological world? Our findings can't answer this question directly, but here's my best guess about what's going on. A lot of anti-evolution propaganda aims to undermine evolution's scientific credentials by exploiting common misconceptions about science and scientific theories. For example, the highly publicized 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial in Dover, Pennsylvania involved (among other things) a controversial statement that teachers were requested to read prior to teaching evolution, and which included the following text: Because Darwin's Theory is a theory, it is still being tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. It could be that understanding the nature of science doesn't itself encourage acceptance of evolution, but rather that by understanding the nature of science, students are able to critically evaluate anti-evolution messages and understand that being "just a theory" isn't such a bad thing to be. article continues after advertisement
But that's just my theory.