(March 22, 2022 at 7:04 pm)Belacqua Wrote:(March 22, 2022 at 11:28 am)Istvan Wrote: Please choose the option you feel better describes scientific inquiry:
1) Science is a self-correcting construct through which we discover truths about the universe. Scientific inquiry is rigorously unbiased and self-critical, and is applicable to any area of human endeavor. Our knowledge corresponds to how objective reality is, independent of human existence.
2) Science is a human construct with all the biases and cultural influences that entails, and is inextricably linked to war, politics and business. The knowledge it produces merely imposes order on the chaos of phenomena to make it comprehensible to humans.
#2 is certainly closer to the truth.
I'd add a little bit of positivity, though, in that fairly often, despite the war, politics, and business, we get genuine benefits. Like improved dentistry. Also I like the Internet really well.
So whence lies the dividing line in science between objectivity and bias?
I say a more honest statement would be, "Science strives to be objective. And has made significant progress in doing so. Some biases still plague science and make it less objective than it could be. But still, it's remarkably objective."
