"Similar confusion is involved in objections that evolution is "unproven";
[20] strict
proof is possible only in logic and mathematics, not science, so this is trivially true, and no more an indictment of evolution than calling it a "theory" is. The confusion arises, however, in that the colloquial meaning of
proof is simply "compelling evidence", in which case scientists would indeed consider evolution "proven". The distinction is an important one in
philosophy of science, as it relates to
the lack of absolute certainty in all empirical claims, not just evolution. "
Your precious wikipedia has betrayed you