Logical Antithesis

Evolution means:

1. macro-evolution: the supposed adaptation, development, or change between non-interbreeding species. A cat that developed from a dog through random chance.
2. micro-evolution: adaptation. Bacteria, fungi, virii, animals, plants, and humans all adapt to their environment and circumstances. In some cases this involves the destruction of certain DNA within the genome, known as a mutation, that destroys a potential sensitivity. For example, MRSA “dropped” the genes that made it vulnerable to certain pharmaceuticals. Change within a kind.
3. stellar evolution: the creation, destruction, and change of planets, stars, and all other astronomical bodies.
4. evolution of law: the creation, destruction, and change of the laws of the physical universe.
5. development: I cringe to see it, but as a programmer I see people say “to see my work evolve over time”. This disgusts me. Evolution implies that random events shape the product, and my skill (or lack thereof) in programming dictates the outcome of the product—not chance. It’s stupid to say it, but they do.
6. adaptation, change: Much like the above, evolution is used to signify the change or adaptation that has taken place—presumably through random causes, yet never used in the description of things caused by random happenstance. The housing market is one example: there is always a cause, and there is always an effect. Yet the market is labeled as “evolving”.

“Vanity, vanity, all is vanity”

The folly of the use of the word “evolution” as a wildcard word is readily apparent. Sure, I know what you mean, but you can also sell me what I don’t want just by using the term.

I get tired of hearing that evolution has been proven. It hasn’t been proven. Did you see the six terms? How many were proven? Which were proven? Were any proven at all?

The only proven form of evolution is the second definition that I have defined: micro-evolution, or adaptation. The change within a kind. Dogs that have many varied breeds that all trace back to the wolf, for one example. This is the only proven form of evolution, which is really just substitution for the word adaptation or for variation within a kind.

So please stop abusing language and say what you mean in place of evolution! If you mean that “as I worked, it was interesting to see how my work developed” then please say so! Or, if you meant to say that the bacteria adapted then say it. But please—PLEASE—do not abuse and mislead the people you talk with by saying “evolution”—when random chance that (laughably) begets order has nothing to do with what you’re talking about.

Call me a perfectionist, but all of you who misuse the English language and the word “evolution” are outright ruining my native tongue. Ruin some other language, would you? English is already degraded enough as it is.