(January 9, 2014 at 10:57 am)MindForgedManacle Wrote: I'm sorry, but part of the whole point of scientific hypotheses is to provide an interpretation by which to understand and explain the data. Ex: Physicists interpret the empirical discovery of time dilation and length contraction as evidence as to the relativity of space and time, and they use that to interpret and explain further empirical data they gather. Rasetsu seems right on the money here.
You are right except that evolution has predicted the behavior of the fossil record very well as I outlined before. Orinthosaurs are a great example of this. We foubd them first almost a 100 years ago and they were instantly recognized for their birdlike features. However at that time they were not found with feather impressions and only a few people thought that Dinosaurs likely had feathers ( namely Huxley and Darwin.) However more recently many feathered dinosaurs had been found and some were far more distantly related to birds, while all that were close to bird had evidence of feathers. Therefore evolution predicted that orinthosaurs also had feathers. And then a few years ago three species were found with feather impressions. Evolutions predictive power is what makes the fossil record powerful direct evidence
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
