Assumptions of Scientific Method and Knowledge
This marks the beginning of a philosophical journey in which I will attempt to undertake as I explore and undermine what is know as "science" in the modern sense. On and off I've been thinking about the philosophy of science, and the more I think about it, the more I had convinced myself that the task before me is to critique the system of science and to bring it down to the level of mythology. This is because science is a myth, a very pretty and correct myth that is in the end without any meaning. It is a myth, however, that has certainly benefitted the capitalist ideology. But we don't need this myth of science. Things can be otherwise; if we are to change (that's a big "if" though), it must start with active questioning, and we must question the assumptions of scientific method and knowledge.
In this entry I want to list out the assumptions of scientific method and knowledge. In later entries, I will attempt to deconstruct these assumptions and perhaps come up with an alternate outlook on science. Here are the assumptions:
1. There is a difference between appearance and reality.
2. Reality is governed by sets of natural laws.
3. These natural laws are uniform over time; they did not change and will not change.
4. Reality is quantifiable.
5. Only through quantitative, systematic analysis can these natural laws be known.
6. Mathematics can enter the sphere of science.
7. The goal of science is to tame nature - to use natural laws to produce something practical for human affairs.
In this entry I want to list out the assumptions of scientific method and knowledge. In later entries, I will attempt to deconstruct these assumptions and perhaps come up with an alternate outlook on science. Here are the assumptions:
1. There is a difference between appearance and reality.
2. Reality is governed by sets of natural laws.
3. These natural laws are uniform over time; they did not change and will not change.
4. Reality is quantifiable.
5. Only through quantitative, systematic analysis can these natural laws be known.
6. Mathematics can enter the sphere of science.
7. The goal of science is to tame nature - to use natural laws to produce something practical for human affairs.
posted by Tristan at 10:23 p.m.
1 Comments:
This is an interesting issue as I personally feel that increasingly frustration with the operation of the science community. So let say you deconstruct the assumptions one by one, the practicality of the project is rather limited unless you could somehow avoid the problem of human psychology - eminently, individual scientists' socio-political attitudes. I am naive in philosophy of science. Maybe you could teach me something again, like you always have been.
Kenneth
Post a Comment
<< Home