I thought a discussion and explanation of what falsification is and its affect on the topic of discussion here would be constructive.
Feel free to critique the content below or add to the discussion and present examples where theories of the past have been falsified
My understanding is that if a scientific theory is to be evaluated using the scientific method, that the theory must be able to be falsified. That is to say that if the theory is going to hold up and be considered supported by evidence, then their must also be a line of reasoning that would show what evidence or relationship could exist that would cause the theory to be false.
For evolution, this falsification could consist of the following
a) Fossils drastically out of place with the pattern of accepted evolution (find a fossil of a horse in with the t-rex)
b) Evidence that falsifies another theory, that the earth is old (provide evidence that can only be explained by a young earth)
c) Show that mutation and natural selection has limits that prevent differences in body structure, chromosome counts, the way organisms produce young from coming from the mechanisms that are currently proposed for evolution to occur.
d) The discovery of an organism with DNA that does not have traceble patters to its accepted ancestors or a form of life that does not rely on DNA for passing of hereditary information
e) A new creatures suddenly appearing before our eyes
Any more? If so, please explain what it is and why it would falsify evolution.
Currenty, evolution exists as an unfalsified theory. So does the common acceptance that the earth is very old.
We often see YEC arguments of evidence that support their argument. The problem is that these evidences can also be explained by an old earth and by explainations that use currently observable mechanisms. There are very few YEC arguments or explanations of evidence that do not rely on a drastic change in the laws of physics. Although it is not fullproof, using Occam's Razor as a guide, old earth "theory" clearly wins out on this one.
Occam's Razor
One should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything
Is there any presentable evidence that falsifies an old earth? There have been several discussions here about evidence that falsifies a young earth, but I haven't seen any that falsifies an old earth. Is there a single line of evidence that can ONLY be valid if the earth is young? We aren't talking about evidence that supports a young earth, this would be evidence that falsifies an old earth. (Of course, this will be a challenge because YEC has been falsified, therefore it has already been established that the earth is old but let's try anyway)
Are there any YEC arguments that fully address the idea of falsification, and pursue it to falsify evolution or an old earth?
What would falsify an old earth?
a) The existence of naturally occuring radio isotopes with short half lives
Any more? If so, please explain what it is and why it would falsify an old earth.
I hope that the "evolutionists" here won't try to hide anything. Lets see what kind of lists we can come up with to show just how falsifyable evolution and an old earth is.
YEC's, can you present a list of things that if found, would falsify a young earth? If not, you aren't looking at your position from a scientific viewpoint.
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