Thoughts on Science and the Truth
When I was younger, science seemed indistinguishable from the Truth. In the era of space travel and atomic bombs, I saw science as the only way to truly understand the universe. Science gave me a way to turn observations into theory; to test theory against reality; to refine and re-define theory in the pursuit of a better understanding of what was “out there” in the real world.
But somewhere along the way, I realized that science and the Truth were not the same thing.
Over time, I repeatedly saw science being appropriated for various political and social causes. Science was no longer the search for the Truth. It became a tool for proving “whatever supports my point of view — so that i can be right in this argument.” Science went from being a magnifying lens that brought the world into a clear view to a still image that could not survive any form of questioning.
At the same time, adulthood also affected my views of the Truth. Leaving my 20’s, I began to understand that the Truth was not a destination that you arrived at after carefully following a set of logical steps. The Truth was something more. The Truth was the unchangeable part of the universe.
The Truth remains even if you don’t believe it; if you haven’t discovered it; if you’re not looking for it — the Truth is there. Unchanging. Infinite.
Often I tell people that the force of gravity is like the Truth. Whether you believe in it or not, if you jumped out of a plane the force of gravity is still there — unchanging — regardless of whether you jumped with, or without, a parachute.
However, the scientist in me had to check my theory every day, so on my morning walks I would jump… just to test that gravity was still there — unchanging.
Today, more than at any other time in my life, I see science diminished by people who don’t use it to find Truth, but instead use it as a short cut to gain some higher moral ground or clearly signal their virtues.
They say: “Science is fact and facts cannot be questioned.”
If you question their “facts”, then you are a denier; you’re uneducated; you may even be a bad person. The notion that you may simply be seeking a clearer view of the Truth is not a valid reason to question their “facts.” In Truth, “seeking a clearer view” is always a valid reason to question the facts.
Where do we go from here? My hope is that one day science will escape from its supporting role in social and political causes. But, for now, I think that will be an uphill struggle. After all, theories like Global Cooling don’t have nearly as much charisma as Al Gore.
At the same time, I think that I also need to be more willing to questions and use science as a pathway to find the Truth.
The road ahead is gonna be interesting. I suppose I had better buckle up.
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