Saturday, August 28, 2010

The scientific limitations



There is a saying that, "Knowledge is power." It is true that proper knowledge does bring the force of truth behind it and in that way it represents strength. Today, we have many that bow at the feet of scientific knowledge, as if it is the sole possesor of all that can be known. This view of science is called scientism. But, I contend that science is severly limited in the scope in what it can show, which runs counter to many within the scientic community.

Scientific leaps have brought great benifit to all, especially in the field of medicine. We should all rejoice at the fantastic discoveries and advances that science has brought to the world. The big problem comes when individuals assume that either science has all the answers or that science is best qualified to answer all questions.

There are a multitude of things that science can not answer. For example, mathematics and logic can be grasped without science showing the way. Science does not explain logic or mathematics and no theories or proofs exist for either. Something else that cannot be proven by science is my own consciousness. I have a first person awareness of what is taking place within my mind, where science always has to take a third person approach. Science has knowledge of objects from a third person perspective. Science will never be able to measure or give the reason for the love I have for my family. Science cannot account for why a moral law is in existance. We intutitivly know good and evil, but science has no way to explain this. Finally science itself cannot prove that it is the only way by which we can have proper knowledge. The scientific method cannot be used to show that science is the king of how we are to understand the world.

If science is limited, it is incumbent upon all of us to seek other forms of knowledge. Science is helpful for understanding, but it in no way is able to provide ultimate truth.
  • A great video showing the limits of science

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