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Does the evidence of evolution prove the theory of evolution?

In: Biology, Evolution, Fossils [Edit categories]

Answer:

In a sense, theories aren't proven.

A theory, in science, is a comprehensive, consistent explanatory model for some set of observations. While we can say with some certainty that some claims about our observations are *likely* to be true, based on the evidence, science can never claim that its explanations are *absolutely* certain to be true.

In other words, the mathematical concept of "proof" does not apply to the natural sciences. In stead, theories in the natural sciences are *supported* and *confirmed* through *evidence*.

And while there is no "proof" in the mathematical sense of the soundness of evolutionary theory, the central theses of evolutionary theory (common descent, descent with modification, natural selection) are confirmed by such an overwhelming amount of evidence, that one might as well say that they've been "proven".

So, to summarize: yes, to the extent that *any* theory in the natural sciences can be "proven", evolutionary theory is "proven" by the evidence.

First answer by Gralgrathor. Last edit by Gralgrathor. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 0 [recommend question].

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