Comments | mayaknife: Science vs. Truth

mayaknife

Science vs. Truth

Aug 04, 2008 19:50

Some people follow ambulances and fire engines to the scene of disaster, but my favourite blood sport is watching online confrontations between Intelligent Designers (Creationists) and those who believe in natural selection and the theory of common descent ( Read more... )

evolution, personal philosophy, science

Comments 5

Science vs. Truth betonica August 5 2008, 18:34:52 UTC

Thanks. That was a fascinating argument. Mind if I use it in a future class (suitably attributed, of course)? I'm not there yet, but I'm planning on teaching some sort of class about the intersection (or lack thereof) of science and religion. It should be fascinating. Maybe in a year or two, if I get the tenure track position.

Having thought about this debate on and off for many years, the one clear thing I've come up with is that a central concept of religion is to believe (have faith, whatever), and this is not so of science. For scientific research, it is essential to question, and be ready to toss everything out the window and start fresh if the evidence starts piling up against your previously-conceived notions.

But I really like the idea that science is not about truth. I'm still not entirely sure about it, but I'll play with it for a while and see where it goes.

Re: Science vs. Truth mayaknife August 6 2008, 09:50:02 UTC

Mind if I use it in a future class

That would be cool. Be my guest.

a central concept of religion is to believe (have faith, whatever), and this is not so of science

While that may be true of the ideals of religion and science, in practice neither is in 100% compliance with those ideals. Not to diminish the importance of those ideals, though, since they inform the attitudes and actions of their respective adherents.

Re: Science vs. Truth betonica August 6 2008, 14:53:19 UTC

Definitely on the ideal, rather than the 100% compliance. I was thinking of previous centuries of religion, where part of the point was to search and question. Not that I'm an expert, mind you (I know next to nothing about religions) but it doesn't seem like questioning is a big point, these days. And of course, there's plenty of "faith" in science - I take the laws of gravity (etc) on faith all the time. But I'd be fascinated to be given a good argument or some solid evidence that would lead me to question those laws.

Re: Science vs. Truth crazed_lynn August 6 2008, 16:29:41 UTC

Faith without questioning the dogma is central to some religions, or, rather, to some sects of some religions. Christianity has dozens of stories about the value of questioning of existence. There is a long (not in the bible) history of ecumenical fighting over religious dogma including the divinity of Jesus, the trinity, the virgin birth, and so forth. All dogmatic religions have a history of fighting over the truth ( ... )

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