Re: [Phys-l] Global Evolution as fact

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

On 01/10/2011 03:05 PM, LaMontagne, Bob wrote:
> a theory or a fact
....
> Obviously there are are many on this list that do care - simply to
> get the language correct.

There is still no scenario in which this is a good-faith discussion.
 -- If somebody wanted to have a philosophical and philological 
  discussion of what words like "fact" and "theory" mean, asking 
  about evolution would not be a reasonable way to frame the question.
 -- If somebody wanted to have a discussion about evolution, asking
  whether it is a theory or a fact would not be a reasonable way
  to frame the question.

The "fact or theory" question is designed to be an apple of discord.  
It is designed to make scientists look stupid.  

It is an intelligence test.  If you answer the question in its own
terms, you fail.