The phrase "Evolution is a fact"

I agree with subbie. (as does the natural world, I might add )If evolution is defined as "descent with modification" then it's occurence is as much of a fact as just about anything, hardcore epistemological skepticism aside.Again, as subbie said, we've observed it in nature and in the lab.While there is plenty of evidence for it, I do suppose I can reasonably understand why some people might not think the idea that all current life evolved from a common ancestor should be regarded as a fact though. We obviously couldn't have directly observed that.

True, there's many things that are considered as facts that haven't been directly observed. But few, if any of them, are found to be as directly in conflict with people's religious beliefs as common ancestry. Therefore I can "reasonably understand" why some of those people might not regard it as a "fact", while I personally disagree with them.