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[[Creationism|Creationists]] have argued that evolution is not a scientific theory because it is not falsifiable, and in this respect they have the support of Popper himself, as well as other evolutionists.

[[Creationism|Creationists]] have argued that evolution is not a scientific theory because it is not falsifiable, and in this respect they have the support of Popper himself, as well as other evolutionists.

Although supporting evolution, Popper himself said:<ref>{{hnb|Popper|1976|p=168}}</ref>

Although supporting evolution, [[Karl Popper]], leading philosopher of science and originator of the falsifiability

criterion, said:<ref>{{hnb|Popper|1976|p=168}}</ref><ref>http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/PoE/pe05scnc.html</ref>

{{QuoteBox|Darwinism is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research programme.}}

{{QuoteBox|Darwinism is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research programme.}}

Popper, trying to distance himself from creationists, later tried to retract the claim.  However, he is not the only one to have made similar claims.

Popper modified his position somewhat and there are some subsequent quotes of Popper showing Popper only partially modified his claim.<ref>http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/PoE/pe05scnc.html</ref> However, Popper is not the only one to have made similar claims.

Birch and Ehrlich previously wrote in ''Nature'':<ref>{{hnb|Birch and Ehrlich|1967|p=349}}</ref>{{QuoteBox|Our theory of evolution has become, as Popper described, one which cannot be refuted by any possible observations.  Every conceivable observation can be fitted into it.  It is thus outside of empirical science but not necessarily false.  No one can think of ways in which to test it.  Ideas, either without basis or based on a few laboratory experiments carried out in extremely simplified systems, have become part of an evolutionary dogma accepted by most of us as part of our training.}}

Birch and Ehrlich previously wrote in ''Nature'':<ref>{{hnb|Birch and Ehrlich|1967|p=349}}</ref>{{QuoteBox|Our theory of evolution has become, as Popper described, one which cannot be refuted by any possible observations.  Every conceivable observation can be fitted into it.  It is thus outside of empirical science but not necessarily false.  No one can think of ways in which to test it.  Ideas, either without basis or based on a few laboratory experiments carried out in extremely simplified systems, have become part of an evolutionary dogma accepted by most of us as part of our training.}}