Asking
Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Define 'science'. Don't look it up online....from your own brain, define it. [I Love Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream]

"Science vs religion". "Scientists say...." "I believe in science, not fairy tales."

People who use words should be able to define those words, especially people who rage using those words. Simple matter....define the word.
Top | New | Old
Tsondru · M
There is no "thing" called "science". Not like you can say a pork-chop is sitting on a plate.

"Science" is a method. A method of inquiry.

The scientific method of observing the world. Making a hypothesis on the basis of those observations. And then designing an experiment to attempt to falsify that hypothesis. Then one has a theory of how the world works. At least for a moment.

Repeating that until one can make more refined observations and hypotheses. And more experiments. To make more robust theories of how the world works. Theories that are more predictive, that fail less in special circumstances.

But it's just a method.

There are other methods.
Tsondru · M
@uncleshawn Well. Good talking about this. It is a bit difficult to do in this context, so I appreciate the perseverance. Thanks.

It’s also difficult as there may or may not be a back story to our views on science.

I would agree that there are logical and non-empirical WoK. That is an endeavor of philosophy.
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@Tsondru Right on about the context and the back story.

Been a pleasure. Peace. Feel free to have the last reply....I leave it open to you as a gentleman. With that, I'm out. See you around the block.
newjaninev2 · 56-60, F
@uncleshawn
other methods...but that is not something for this thread

Oh, don’t be shy. You keep coming to the brink of saying what it is you’re trying to sell, and then your nerve seems to fail you.

Come now, be bold. State that which you’re trying not to state.

Make the case that you’re so hesitant to make.
Harmonium1923 · 51-55, M
The study of natural phenomena through observable facts and the rigorous application of experimentation, testing, logic, hypothesis, and conclusion.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@uncleshawn Logic and mathematics are just tools, and are self-referential. Philosophers bother themselves with questions of metaphysical underpinnings, while scientists and mathematicians simply use the tools.
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@QuixoticSoul Yes, they are tools. They are taken as real and truthful. And they are invisible. And therefore the invisible is more fundamental than the physical. And this is why definitions matter.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@uncleshawn Real and truthful aren't even concepts that mathematicians and scientists bother to apply to math. That's the sort of stuff philosophers worry about. For that matter, math and logic aren't required for science anyhow - they are merely useful.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
It’s a methodology for acquisition of certain types of knowledge, rooted in empiricism. It doesn’t offer any guarantees, and is always in progress.

It’s also the only real game in town.
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@QuixoticSoul rooted in empiricism....now you have gotten somewhere fundamental...an idea.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
The methodology of observation, formulation of a hypothesis, experimentation and revision of the original hypothesis if nessasary.
The study of the world around us to learn why it does what it does and how we can use what we've learned in our own creations, technology so that we too can one day become gods and overlord of the universe.
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@nonsensiclesnail I like it, especially the overlord part. (I have you a squeeze hart emoji. 😁)

......'study of the world around us' is the old and cogent definition of 'science'. The modern definitions are mostly poor and usually self-defeating, and include blind faith assumptions that "scientists" are not even aware of. But I am getting ahead....
@uncleshawn You are getting ahead, but that's alright. I enjoy reading your responses to things.
checkoutanytime · 41-45, M
The documented study of natural accurring sircumstances of the subject matter being observed in closed spectrum leads to a specified field of more'ons of a singular subject of the matter observed.
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@checkoutanytime Are you sure there are more ons than offs?
checkoutanytime · 41-45, M
@uncleshawn wicked shore guy
Candleholder · 36-40, T
Science is the advancement of knowledge by observation, hypothesis and attempts to disprove the hypothesis. If no one can disprove it or come up with something better, it stands as the best hypothesis.

I believe it was a man named Bacon who defined the scientific method.
Science is the study of things...most commonly physical, environmental, and mathematical events and activities, initially based on theories that then must be investigated and proven true or false.
SW-User
Science is a means of understanding the world through experimentation and observation, as opposed to understanding the world through tradition and revelation.
newjaninev2 · 56-60, F
@SW-User Yes indeed

https://fs.blog/2013/06/richard-feynman-the-key-to-science/
Wateribbon · 26-30
Do you know what is quantum physics?
newjaninev2 · 56-60, F
@uncleshawn there’s no such thing as ‘science vs. religion’

Science cares not one jot about religion.

Religion brings nothing to the table, and science therefore has no interest in it (although some neuroscientists may have an interest in the neurology driving the infection)
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@newjaninev2 That debate is muddled by all sides, using bad definitions and hidden assumptions. THus the avoidance of it here.
newjaninev2 · 56-60, F
@uncleshawn
That debate

What debate? What are the different positions, and what do they bring to the table?

bad definitions and hidden assumptions

For example?
A word preceded by “She Blinded Me With” by Thomas Dolby
SW-User
Test tube magic.
FloorGenAdm · 51-55, M
People messing with stuff for the greater good until mad scientists get their hands on it and the cycle has to start all over again. ☯️
BRUUH · VIP
Etymologically, the word just means "With knowledge". To me, science is a method. Originating from Al Haytham, modified by Francis Bacon, and used to uncover truth.
an attempt to put a methodology to study and understand a topic or group of topics
SW-User
natural world and stuff
A great deal of scientists don't say "fairy tales". In fact, I'll bet most who do aren't even professional scientists.
@uncleshawn perhaps not, but there isn't anything in astrophysicists' acumen that prevent them from using that term (just common sense). Anthropologists and psychologists, on the other hand, understand that only children believe in fairy tales and wouldn't use such a sophomoric term for adults' beliefs.

I'm curious, what kinds of scientists have you known to apply "fairly tales" to adults' beliefs, because I've never heard a professional do that (although I can name a few that likely do)
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP Oh, I have encountered them online before, and I heard a similar term used by a physicist (though not astrophysicist) at a lecture a long time ago at a university. Scientists themselves began calling each other out for that quite a while back, so they are more careful now. But in closer quarters, of course terms like that are used a lot.
uncleshawn · 41-45, M
@ImperialAerosolKidFromEP Here you are talking about a good vs bad definition of the term 'fairy tale'. It's a good and interesting note, but I'm afraid the discussion will go too far off. Am just looking for a definition of 'science', for several reasons.
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
LordShadowfire · 46-50, M
Science is the process of applying the scientific method to find things out.

 
Post Comment