The "Theory" of Evolution

I am always astounded at the scientific illiteracy of the general print and TV media. A case in point is that whenever one reads or hears about evolution it is always referred to as a theory. The implication being that perhaps there are other explanations - i.e. intelligent design and other creationist claptrap ideas - that may explain the flora and fauna of the Earth. Perhaps this is merely a sop to certain religious groups for whom anything other than a literal interpretation of the Bible is a threat to their faith, (in which case their faith must be pretty weak), but I suspect it has more to do with ignorance rather than any active promotion of alternative views.

Let me be perfectly clear. Evolution is not a theory. It is a scientific fact (facts are by the way the grist of science) well established in the biochemical (read DNA), fossil and anthropological record of the plant and animal species - up to and including homo sapiens - that have existed on this planet.

The reference to a "Theory" comes from a misunderstanding of Darwin's seminal work titled
"On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life." The theory that Darwin postulates is not that evolution occurred, but rather that it occurred as a result of natural selection. The confusion comes from the tendency by those in the media and elsewhere to conflate the theory of how it happened with the fact of evolution.

No serious scientist questions the fact of evolution, but the reference to the "Theory" of Evolution continues to be quoted today.