Malangyar writes:
Hi, couldn't find a place to post these questions so decided to try and start a new topic:
What is the definition of direct evidence and indirect evidence and could you please provide examples of each? In relation to evolution, would the fossil record be an example of direct or indirect evidence of evolution?
Also, could you explain why indirect evidence is "good enough" evidence to support scientific theories, or provide examples of commonly accepted scientific theories, where supporting evidence is wholely, or mostly indirect? I know atoms are at least one such theory (source:
Questions and Answers - What is one example of indirect evidence that scientists use to study an atom?)
Currently debating a creationist and he's been nagging me about evolution only being supported by indirect evidence while every other scientific theory is apparently supported by direct evidence...didn't want to state any falsehoods which is why I'm asking
Evidence quality and quantity is a problem for ideas that are wrong. Like evolution and company.
The fossil record is a good point for creationists of what is not biological evidence for a conclusion.
Always i see evolutionists try to say the fossil record is a top ten piece of evidence for the reality of evolutionary change.
yet a creationist will reply its not biological evidence for a biological claim but in fact its geological evidence from whence a biological claim is made.
The fossil record is just casts of former life. iTs not living biology.
drawing conclusions from it can not be called biological research.
Biology is about test tubes and cutting up tissue not about pick axes and dynamite.
In this way a important flaw is shown in what evidence is for a conclusion.
Evolution can not claim data from geological presumptions and results as biological evidence for a biological theory.
The fossil record is not indirect evidence for evolutionary processes but is not evidence at all.
Its just data interpretated from geological presumptions from whence they speculate about biological process.
Your creationist debater made a good point.