evolution of the gaps

evolution of the gaps

English

Etymology

By analogy to God of the gaps.

Proper noun

evolution of the gaps

1. (rare, creationism) Evolution, when used as an explanation for anything that is yet unexplained by science.
   • 2009, Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God, Zondervan (→ISBN)

     Well, this is 'evolution-of-the-gaps.' Some scientists merely insert evolution when they don't understand something. “Look —we may not understand everything about these biological systems, but we do know some things. We do know that ...

   • 2010, Michael L. Peterson, Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings, Oxford University Press, USA

     It is therefore clear how an evolution-of-the-gaps could be just as metaphysically motivated for an incautious atheist as a God-of-the-gaps could be for an incautious theist. For materialists there simply must eventually be a solution in terms of ...