Thread: The Limitations of Science and the Danger of Scientism

Originally Posted by DuB

It's always fascinating to hear the double standard so many people have about which scientific theories are or are not "testable." People have no trouble accepting the scientific consensus on the age of the Earth, the size of our galaxy, the speed of light, etc.,

Well, creationists also have a problem with science's age of the Earth. And the speed of light is testable. But you are preaching to the choir here. I believe in evolution. I am not a creationist. I think that the point is that such conclusions are outside the territory of the scientific method. I am not saying that it means that it isn't true. Evolution is true, but it isn't science. Just like psychology is true, but it isn't science, since it is subjective. That is what I think that the point of these articles are. That there are other studies of truth besides science. It is not to discredit science at all. These articles are not anti-science. But isn't it interesting how defensive people get when you point out the limitations of their belief system, whether it be based on religion or science? "No, science is everything! Science is all! Science is the only truth!"

@thegnome54: You are missing the point. Learning about the objective world is science's domain. That is where science belongs. Learning how to create fire or make the wheel was science. I have a car and a computer which is possible because of science. etc. Physics and astronomy etc. But as to whether it is a good idea to build nuclear weapons or if abortion should be legal or illegal is not science, and apparently neither is evolution, or paranormal stuff, or altered states of consciousness through meditation or drugs. Well, brain chemistry is science, but that doesn't study the experience of consciousness itself. Science cannot ever know if we have freewill or not. If I choose to lift up my right foot and I do it is the realm of philosophy, etc. A musician has access to truths that science doesn't. An artist has access to truths that science doesn't. A farmer has access to truths that science doesn't. Science can only look for the answer to the question "How?". But how is not the only question us humans have. And the truth is not only "How".

I propose that there could be an objective way to experiment on subjective experience, like meditation. If you had fifty people and you gave them all the same meditation technique, (For example the ones that supposedly allow you to live without eating) without telling them what the results are supposed to be, and then compare their experiences and log them in a database and keep repeating the experiment and see what the trends are.

Remember: THIS THREAD IS NOT ANTI-SCIENCE!