Belief Quote by Alan I. Leshner
“Evolution is an organizing principle and when we call it a theory, we mean it's a theory, we don't mean that it's a belief that someone holds.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Science communication, 2010
Scientific theories are robust explanations, not mere beliefs; they are supported by evidence and predictive power.
In simple terms: Theory = evidence‑based explanation, not belief.
Key Takeaway
Treat theories as evidence‑driven models.
Themes
science
epistemology
education
Mood
analytical
informative
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classroom teaching
- policy making
- media reporting
- research discussions
Key Concepts
theory vs belief
scientific method
public understanding
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish theory from belief?
- What role does evidence play in public discourse?
A Different Perspective
Complex theories can be misunderstood by non‑experts.
![“Evolution is a theory in a special philosophical sense of science, but in terms of ordinary laymen's use of language, it's a fact, .. Evolution is a fact in the same sense that it's a fact that the Earth is round and not flat, [that] the Earth goes round the Sun. Both those are also theories, but…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/237/richard-dawkins-115_earth_evolution-is-a-theory-in-a-special-philo_1969521.jpg)
![“[Theory is] an explanation that has been confirmed to such a degree, by observation and experiment, that knowledgeable experts accept it as fact. That's what scientists mean when they talk about a theory: not a dreamy and unreliable speculation, but an explanatory statement that fits the evidence…” quote by David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e66/david-quammen-9256_accepting_theory-is-an-explanation-that-has-been-c_2604502.jpg)
![“Well, it [evolution] is a theory, it is a scientific theory only, and it has in recent years been challenged in the world of science and is not yet believed in the scientific community to be as infallible as it once was believed. But if it was going to be taught in the schools, then I think that…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/543/ronald-reagan-119_biblical_well-it-evolution-is-a-theory-it-is-a-sc_597478.jpg)
