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Popper modified his position somewhat and here is a explanation of his subsequent remarks:

Popper modified his position somewhat and here is a explanation of his subsequent remarks:

The late Karl Popper (one of world's leading philosopher of science and originator of the falsifiability criterion), noted that "Darwin's own most important contribution to the theory of evolution, his theory of natural selection, is difficult to test" in that although in "some tests ... such as the famous phenomenon known as `industrial melanism,' we can observe natural selection happening under our very eyes .... Nevertheless, really severe tests of the theory of natural selection are hard to come by" (Popper, 1978, p.344). Earlier, in  

{{cquote|The late Karl Popper (one of world's leading philosopher of science and originator of the falsifiability criterion), noted that "Darwin's own most important contribution to the theory of evolution, his theory of natural selection, is difficult to test" in that although in "some tests ... such as the famous phenomenon known as `industrial melanism,' we can observe natural selection happening under our very eyes .... Nevertheless, really severe tests of the theory of natural selection are hard to come by" (Popper, 1978, p.344). Earlier, in  

1974, Popper had concluded in his book, "Unended Quest: An Intellectual Autobiography," that  

1974, Popper had concluded in his book, "Unended Quest: An Intellectual Autobiography," that  

"Darwinism" (that is the modern Neo-Darwinian theory of evolution), "is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research programme" which at best was only a possible framework for testable scientific theories" (Popper, 1982, p.168. My emphasis). For this Popper was attacked by Darwinists, so in 1978 he issued what he called a "recantation" (note the language of religious persecution!) but in which he stood by his claim that "the doctrine (note again the religious language) of natural selection is a most successful metaphysical research programme" but had "changed [his] mind about the testability and the  

"Darwinism" (that is the modern Neo-Darwinian theory of evolution), "is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research programme" which at best was only a possible framework for testable scientific theories" (Popper, 1982, p.168. My emphasis). For this Popper was attacked by Darwinists, so in 1978 he issued what he called a "recantation" (note the language of religious persecution!) but in which he stood by his claim that "the doctrine (note again the religious language) of natural selection is a most successful metaphysical research programme" but had "changed [his] mind about the testability and the  

The clear implication being that Popper considered "the theory of natural selection" (the cornerstone of the modern theory of evolution") was either: 1) testable in "its most daring and sweeping form," but failed that test; or 2) untestable in any less "daring and sweeping form," which is the form it is in science today. In 1980 Popper responded to a further attack by a Darwinist by clarifying that he regarded "the theory of evolution" as among the "historical sciences" having "scientific character: their hypotheses can in many cases be tested ... by deriving from them testable predictions or retrodictions" (Popper, 1980). But again, it is clear that Popper had not really retracted his original 1974 claim, and in fact in the 1982 revised edition of the book, his original conclusion that "Darwinism is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research programme" remained. Commenting on this, leading Darwinist philosopher of science, [[Michael Ruse]] acknowledged, "Since making this claim, Popper himself has modified his position somewhat; but, disclaimers aside, I suspect that even  

The clear implication being that Popper considered "the theory of natural selection" (the cornerstone of the modern theory of evolution") was either: 1) testable in "its most daring and sweeping form," but failed that test; or 2) untestable in any less "daring and sweeping form," which is the form it is in science today. In 1980 Popper responded to a further attack by a Darwinist by clarifying that he regarded "the theory of evolution" as among the "historical sciences" having "scientific character: their hypotheses can in many cases be tested ... by deriving from them testable predictions or retrodictions" (Popper, 1980). But again, it is clear that Popper had not really retracted his original 1974 claim, and in fact in the 1982 revised edition of the book, his original conclusion that "Darwinism is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research programme" remained. Commenting on this, leading Darwinist philosopher of science, [[Michael Ruse]] acknowledged, "Since making this claim, Popper himself has modified his position somewhat; but, disclaimers aside, I suspect that even  

now he does not really believe that Darwinism in its modern form is genuinely falsifiable." (Ruse, 1982, p.133). <ref>http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/PoE/pe05scnc.html</ref>

now he does not really believe that Darwinism in its modern form is genuinely falsifiable." (Ruse, 1982, p.133). <ref>http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/PoE/pe05scnc.html</ref>}}

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.}}

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.}}

Dr. Whitten later said:<ref>Dr Whitten, Professor of Genetics at the University of Melbourne, who was giving the Assembly Week address in 1980.  Quoted by Wieland, Carl, ''[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4978 Clash over origins]''</ref>

Dr. Whitten later said:<ref>Dr Whitten, Professor of Genetics at the University of Melbourne, who was giving the Assembly Week address in 1980.  Quoted by Wieland, Carl, ''[http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4978 Clash over origins]''</ref>

{{QuoteBox|Biologists are simply naïve when they talk about experiments designed to test the theory of evolution. It is not testable. They may happen to stumble across facts which would seem to conflict with its predictions. These facts will invariably be ignored and their discoverers will undoubtedly be deprived of continuing research grants.}}

{{cquote|Biologists are simply naïve when they talk about experiments designed to test the theory of evolution. It is not testable. They may happen to stumble across facts which would seem to conflict with its predictions. These facts will invariably be ignored and their discoverers will undoubtedly be deprived of continuing research grants.}}

== Further reading ==

== Further reading ==