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ekorn's picture

Fact or fiction, what is the story of evolution telling us?

In the appendix of Mayr’s book (Apendix B) he toys with a few questions he believes are frequently asked about evolution. The first question he attempts to tackle is, “Is evolution a fact” (p.275). His response to this question is as follows, “Evolution is not merely an idea, a theory, or a concept, but the name of a process in nature, the occurrence of which can be documented by mountains of evidence that nobody has been able to refute…Evolution is no longer a theory, it is simply a fact” (p.275). This rather bold and conclusive statement is how I have always seen evolution, as a fact…despite its absence in my previous education. However, it seems that with evolution, the more evidence we find and the more I am taught the more I begin to question how true/factual evolution is. Our discussions in class have sparked my questioning of the so-called truth behind evolution. At the beginning of the month scientists claim to have found the “most primitive primate” from 56 million year old fossils, remains that may cause humans to “redraw [their] family tree” (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070201-primates.html). Looking at these fossils I visually cannot comprehend how modern day man could have evolved from this species. The story of evolution is constantly being changed by this so-called evidence. If something is constantly changing, how do we find fact or truth in it? These findings refute what scientists had previously believed before, and it is likely to “spark debate”. So then is Mayr wrong in his assumption that evolution is “simply a fact”?

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