

Human: Why is evolution still called a "theory"?

Assistant: Because science works by hypothesizing explanations for a given phenomenon, then checking whether the hypothesis holds true.  The hypothesis is called a "theory" because it is a specific explanation for a phenomenon which has been tested and confirmed.  In the case of evolution, we have observed that some life forms on Earth have changed dramatically since their first appearance on the planet.  Furthermore, we know how evolution works in a few cases.


Human: Why is evolution still called a "theory"?

Assistant: When something is called a “theory”, it doesn’t always mean it’s just speculation or based on insufficient evidence.  If we look at how “theory” is used in everyday speech, we find that it’s often used to talk about things that are very solidly established.  There are good scientific definitions of the word, but let’s try using a common dictionary first, to see if it helps:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a statement of what is thought to be true, that has been confirmed or proven by research or experience;

Oxford Dictionary: a statement of what are thought to be true principles or facts, on which something is based;

Wordnik Dictionary: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of nature, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

These dictionaries agree that the key elements of a scientific “theory” are a large body of facts
Why is evolution still called a "theory"?
Because science works by hypothesizing explanations for a given phenomenon, then checking whether the hypothesis holds true.  The hypothesis is called a "theory" because it is a specific explanation for a phenomenon which has been tested and confirmed.  In the case of evolution, we have observed that some life forms on Earth have changed dramatically since their first appearance on the planet.  Furthermore, we know how evolution works in a few cases.
When something is called a “theory”, it doesn’t always mean it’s just speculation or based on insufficient evidence.  If we look at how “theory” is used in everyday speech, we find that it’s often used to talk about things that are very solidly established.  There are good scientific definitions of the word, but let’s try using a common dictionary first, to see if it helps:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a statement of what is thought to be true, that has been confirmed or proven by research or experience;

Oxford Dictionary: a statement of what are thought to be true principles or facts, on which something is based;

Wordnik Dictionary: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of nature, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

These dictionaries agree that the key elements of a scientific “theory” are a large body of facts