Wojciech Sady has proposed that the hallmark of scientific theory depends heavily on the existence of a set of mutually connected empirical applications of the theory in question. The author claims that from the point of view of his philosophical interests the main merit of the new criterion of demarcation is that it gives a new support for his own analyses of the philosophical hard core of an evolutionary theory. He founds also a few faults of Sady's proposal. The major one is that he drew his conclusion from a detailed analysis of Roentgen's discovery only, and as such it does not necessarily fit to every scientific activity in every epoch in the history of science. It seems that it does not fit e.g. to more and more popular string theory in physics which does not have any empirical applications. Probably Sady has formulated only a sufficient condition for a theory with the scientific status, not a necessary one. Also his a-historical standpoint is very doubtful.
In the paper the author has presented traits of the theory of punctuated equilibria and of methodology of scientific research programmes. From the point of view of the latter, the evolutionary theory stepped into the degenerative phase of its development, because it does not predict any new discoveries from the fossil record. Moreover, there are two major doubts. First, the punctualist theory may lead into a blind alley rather than opening a new vista. Second, Lacatos' theory does not seem to be a proper instrument in evaluating the progress of science, because it does not compel anyone to make methodological evaluations and decisions.
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