FACT OF EVOLUTION TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF EVOLUTIONISM 331 



vention/" Assuming, for the moment, the definition of evolu- 

 tion stated here, let us turn our attention to the other undefined 

 element of the proposition, the term " fact." 



What is a Fact? 



Although the term is much used (and abused) in ordinary 

 speech, the accepted meanings of the word " fact " are greatly 

 varied. These variations fall into the following five categories: 



(1) a thing done; deed, specifically, an unlawful deed, crime; 



(2) that which has actual existence; an event; (3) the quality 

 of being actual; actuality; as, the realm of fact as distinct from 

 that of fancy; (4) the statement of a thing done or existing; as, 

 his facts are false; loosely, the thing supposed (even though 

 falsely) to be done or to exist; (5) Law: specifically, usually 

 in the plural; any of the circumstances or matters of a case as 

 alleged; also, that which is of actual occurrence; reality as 

 an event.^^ 



The range of meaning here indicates some ambiguity, but a 

 fact is, for most people, some deed or event which is known to 

 have actually taken place. Analogously and loosely the term 

 is applied to events supposed or alleged to have taken place, 

 even though the supposition may be unsupported, but in or- 

 dinary speech the usual meaning is clear. The term fact im- 

 plies an element of certainty, or, at least, the removal of doubt 

 about the actual existence of some event. Something is factual, 

 or a fact, when it is known, either directly or indirectly, to 

 exist or to have existed. One can attain the factual either by 

 evidence or by inferences from evidence, but in any case, until 

 one can ascribe actual existence to a deed or a thing, the term 

 " fact " is not properly ascribed. To the ordinary person, fact 

 is contrasted to fiction, fancy, mere supposition, hypothesis, 

 guesswork, inconclusive evidence and uncertain or doubtful 

 inferences. 



When the student of language begins to investigate the 



^^ Loc. cit. 



^^ Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd ed. (Springfield, Mass., 1953) . 



