Philosophical problems with science.

[max-greece]

Science is not about facts. Science is about explaining observations in a consistent way. As new observations come to light that contradict existing theories those are thrown out and newer, more all encompassing theories take their place.

If your question is as to how we know science is advancing then an easy indicator it to look around and see the products of science and whether they are improving or not.

I'd be surprised if you didn't see improvement, personally.

"Explaining observations" is determined by ones historical place in time, education therefore class, ideologies, religions, all which can and often do form what kinds of observations and questions are formed. Meaning that science is not based in anything tangible just like religion isn't.

Its the quest for knowledge and understanding. That isn't tangible in the sense of a bacon sandwich but its a process. You might regard the process as flawed - maybe it is, but it is the best we have.

In some ways it does resemble both religion and philosophy in respect of being an attempt to understand, but it exceeds both of the above by being based primarily on experiment.

It is also predictive - but if those predictions cannot be tested it handles those as a hypothesis until such time as experimental data can solidify it into a theory.

I just don't get the problem.