Science is ...
August 18, 2009
I am no scientist. One might argue whether or not I am a philosopher. I am more of a philosopher than a scientist at any rate, sometimes one who enjoys philosophical inquiry about the nature of science.
I have studies the scientific method. It facilitates its own kind of inquiry into questions of "how," "when," and especially, "what."
Yet, the question, "Is it scientific?" is no more ultimate than ...
Is it legal?
Is it feasible?
Is it popular?
A better question at any crossroads would be, "Is it true?" Scientific inquiry can point us to one dimension of truth, but it alone cannot tell us the whole truth about anything. Science itself has deep appreciation for the notions of "unknowns" in the universe. Truth encompasses the universe and goes beyond.
Nevertheless, in collecting some definitions of science, I found this interesting. Without evaluating them, I simply post them. Others can be found at: Science Quotes and at Quote Garden.
"In essence, science is a perpetual search for an intelligent and integrated comprehension of the world we live in." Cornelius Bernardus Van Neil (1897- ) U. S. microbiologist.
"Science is organized knowledge." - Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) English philosopher. Education.
"Science is simply common sense at its best that is, rigidly accurate in observation, and merciless to fallacy in logic." Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-95) English biologist.
"Science is nothing but developed perception, interpreted intent, common sense rounded out and minutely articulated." George Santayana (1863-1952) U. S. philosopher and writer. The Life of Reason.
"Science is facts; just as houses are made of stone, so is science made of facts; but a pile of stones is not a house, and a collection of facts is not necessarily science." Jules Henri Poincaré (1854-1912) French mathematician.
"Science is nothing but trained and organized common sense differing from the latter only as a veteran may differ from a raw recruit: and its methods differ from those of common sense only as far as the guardsman's cut and thrust differ from the manner in which a savage wields his club." Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-95) English biologist. "The Method of Zadig" in Collected Essays IV.
"Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition." Adam Smith (1723-90) Scottish economist. The Wealth of Nations, 1776.
"Science is what you know. Philosophy is what you don't know." Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) English philosopher, mathematician."Science is the systematic classification of experience." George Henry Lewes (1817-78) English writer and critic.
"Science is a cometary of dead ideas." - Miguel de Unamuno