What is Science?
“Neither observation, nor generalization, nor the hypothetic deductive use of assumptions, nor the use of instruments, nor mathematical construction, nor all of them together, can be regarded as essential to science.”
— Jerome Black
The word science comes from the Latin root word scindere meaning “to know” or “to distinguish by separating.” Thus, the term “science” can be defined as: “a system of knowledge concerning the physical world and its phenomena that is derived from unbiased observations and systematic experimentation.” The words I want to focus on are “physical world.” This implies that science is only interested in the physical, material aspects of our world and reality, the external as opposed to the internal. However, this limits science to only what we can see and, in some cases, touch.
Science relies upon sound and logical research through observation and investigation of natural phenomena, based on a series of Mathematical Laws that are precise and quantitative. Meaning, it is able to produce the same results with every experimental outcome. It examines the world rationally and methodically and is seen in association with logic and pattern, cause and effect, experimentation and observation where everything is viewed as a subject that is run under tests.
The universe is made up of mindless matter and there is no consciousness. Everything that exists is governed by Mathematical Laws where there is no purpose nor design to nature. Angels, demons and spirits are merely ideas and illusions confined to the brain. All of these things can be explained in purely physical terms, eliminating the need of a “God.” Everything is a machine and evolved automatically and unconsciously. There is no need of a creator and therefore, no purpose or intent behind it. Today’s scientific worldview says these things are so because they are all related to the non-physical, and like I said earlier, science is all about what is physical. To agree to something that cannot be observed would not be rational thinking in the scientific world.
But what is this “reality” and does it mean we are 100% right on everything? That we have all the answers and if not, have ways of finding them? Certainly, what we have discovered thus far about the nature of our world and beyond, shows a great deal to what our creativity and imagination can accomplish. I wonder though, does the current scientific worldview make the decisions for us on what is or isn’t possible to accomplish? Saying yes to some ideas and no to others? And if so, would it or would it not put a cap on our creativity and imagination? I believe that reality, that is viewed only through science, is just a tiny portion of what actually exists. And if this is the case, we need something other than science in order to explain the whole picture.
The thing about science is, it is always changing as new ideas and concepts come about. This makes it an open-ended process because theories (that are based on these new concepts) are continually being tested and updated with each new found evidence. I believe we are entering a new era of science as these new, thought-provoking ideas involving psychic phenomena emerge. As more and more experiments are done and data collected, the more open people (mostly scientists) will be to accepting the reality of it.
I do believe that science is the most accurate explanation on the reality that we as humans have developed so far and it would be hard to dismiss any of the evidence given. After all, our physical universe does operate through natural and mathematical laws, in terms that we understand and that are predictable, which makes it easy for us to accept. But what happens when we keep using the reductionist approach? To pick it all apart, piece by piece? Scientists are slowly starting to see that the microcosmic world does not operate in the same manner as the macrocosmic world. In fact, the more we look into subatomic particles (the smallest of building block pieces), the less we know because everything starts to function differently. The same laws that apply to the physical world no longer make sense in the quantum world.
Within this quantum world, there have been discoveries of forces and energies at play, and there are most certainly other phenomena that occur that go beyond what we can perceive and understand. We know of these existences because of their effects. So we may KNOW that they happen, we just don’t know HOW they happen, and this is where the issue currently lies. Of course, these other phenomena I am talking about are psychic phenomena meaning, we know that occurrences such as telepathy and precognition do occur. We just haven’t figured out how it actually works. And until science can document and prove how it works, it will still be under strict criticism and ridicule. This is where I think new discoveries in science are going to change drastically. We already know that the body is made up of energy. But how this energy relates to other energies is still in question.
If science is only concerned about what is physical, then the question is how can we know if there really is an existence in the unseen world? In reality, science just ASSUMES that all matter is unconscious, the universe and all that exists has no purpose, and minds are confined to our brains. It at least hasn’t been able to prove that these statements are true. And since these statements are merely just assumptions, it says to me that it is really just a type of belief system rather than being based on scientific facts. On the contrary, there is an astonishing amount of evidence FOR these things.
So then where can we turn to? What deals with the non-physical realities that science doesn’t want to touch nor acknowledge? That is where spirituality comes in.
