It depends a lot on your specific definition of "proven".
If you use mathematics' rather strict definition of the term, then outside it nothing at all can be "proven" completely (it's always at least technically possible that new evidence could overturn everything we have now). Instead, the appropriate thing to say is that it's the best conclusion that can be reached with the current evidence.
In the case of evolution, the evidence is extremely strong and it's currently the only reasonable conclusion from the evidence, not just the best one.
The other thing, of course- beware of thinking too deep into that when discussing it with people who aren't as scientifically literate as you, many of whom will not know the specific meanings of the terms. There are plenty of people who will still try and use the term "theory of evolution" to claim it is "only a guess", even though the scientific term "theory" means it's supported by evidence. Play around with this and you're unlikely to get anywhere.
To answer your question, though- no, to that standard, it hasn't been "proven" and can't be. By the same standard, though, I can't "prove" that guns kill people, either (based on the evidence, it's a reasonable conclusion that they do, but I can't completely prove it beyond all doubt).
Nothing in science is ever proven absolutely because science is an empirical enterprise, and empiricism doesn't admit of absolute proofs. Evolution is a fact. The theory of evolution is an explanation that relates diverse facts together.
Proof is a very strong word, indeed. And when you delve into the scientific method, you'll find that science doesn't actually 'prove' anything....rather, it 'fails to disprove' it.
So gravity, like evolution, is a 'theory'...because it has withstood so many tests and nobody has been able to disprove it.
'Theory' therefore, is also a pretty powerful word in science. It doesn't mean 'best guess' or 'hypothesis'... it means something that has withstood countless experiments and hasn't every yet been disproven.
Why do you address this question to "atheists"?
Anyone familiar with the Scientific Method can speak to this subject.
The empirical support for the Theory of Evolution of Species by Natural Selection is incredibly strong. It explains observations, and can be used to make predictions. Nobody has yet conducted an experiment or made a repeatable observation that falsifies the theory.
It's a theory, by the definition of that word used by scientists. But it's not "proven", by the definition of THAT word, as used by mathematicians. Scientific theories are never "proven".
Evolution will remain a theory whether you want to accept that or not.
No scientist out there yet have came before the world and 'proven' it true.
It has been demonstrated, not proven, correct. I think you know that people aren't saying that it has been matematically proven. However, this pic is how i feel about your pedantry.
Evolution is a fact regardless of what you say.
Yes, it's proven. There are many books on the subject if you are interested. This is biology question, if you post there maybe a teacher will explain it to you.
Science does not work that way, unlike math and logic. However, there have been many experiments in which evolution could, theoretically, have been DISproved. It never has.
I do accept evolution, but does proof only exist in mathematics or can we say that we have proof of evolution? Evolution is a fact, but has it been "proven" since "proof" is a very strong word? Can something be both a fact and proven at the same time?
Have you got a better explanation?
If so, the Nobel committee would be very interested...
Just SAY NO to God
yup
So... exactly why are you asking "atheists"?????????????????
