One-Line Rebuttals: Evolution

This video covers the topic of evolution as it comes up in debates, and tries to explain the answer to the oft-asked question of "what if it's wrong".

Apologies in advance to the fundamentalists. I try not to argue the whole "evolution versus creationism" point, but I'm less than successful. I still manage to explain my point despite it.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• atheism
• debate
• resource
• evolution
• wrong

[veers0r]

Even if evolution was "wrong" it would still be a reasonably good approximation. IMHO the value of a scientific theory is largely based on the number of correct (and useful) predictions it can make. In many ways newtons laws are more valuable than quantum physics, even though they are essentially wrong.

Now how many *predictions* have creationists made based on the bible, that were found to be true? ;)

[EdwardHowton]

An extremely good point to make, veers0r. Newton's laws are a great example to bring up. I think I heard that the U.S. space program was operating on Newtonian physics in its beginnings? In its scope, it's a model that works quite well. It just becomes inaccurate outside of the range of situations it covers.

As for the "predictions"... there's tons! All written post facto, of course... But hey, it's -hard- to fulfill a prophecy like "Yesterday I will have eaten a bagel", y'know.

[miksedene]

dude, i have to say this, i think your message would be a lot more potent if you weren't wearing the mask. Muffled voices aren't good. But still, good points.

[EdwardHowton]

I know... I'm also very soft-spoken, so that can't be helping.

I wish the mask wasn't a necessity, but the other option is to expose myself to reprisals from an mafia-like organization with a long history of frivolous intimidation lawsuits and personal harassment.

If I knew how to create videos, instead of simply recording, I'd prefer it, but I simply don't have the required talent for such things. My only option is my camera and a mask.

Thank you for your comment!

[Desertphile]

"... and tries to explain the answer to the oft-asked question of 'what if it's wrong.'"

Of course it is impossible for evolution to be "wrong:" it makes no sense to say evolution can be "right" or "wrong." It is like asking if rain is "wrong."

[EdwardHowton]

Obviously. Like I point out, it's the name of a model that explains the facts, the process of evolution itself is a given. I made the video series to view bad arguments and point out why and how they're wrong, though, so I had to explore that question as well.

[newexperiment]

You could record the voice ahead of time. And put up pictures or even the face after.

[Desertphile]

P.S. Fives "stars" from me. :-) I would have done more, but YouTube resists all of my hacking attempts.... so far.

[AzmodanKijur]

The false dichotomy of "if you're not right, I am". As Klansteiner said, a classic.

Good point, Edward. Even if it were true that evolution were no correct, it's replacement would have to explain the heaps of evidence like fossils and DNA. And as we both know, "god did it!" is NOT an explanation. It is an end to inquiry.

[klangsteiner]

flase dichotomies have always been the pet pseudo-arguments of creationists.