Post by Mike H on Oct 31, 2012 10:11:03 GMT -5
"Science is the collection of rational explanations. Explain, we can explain consummated events (i.e., the past). Predict, we can at best predict what has yet to happen (i.e., the future). Science does not deal with the future (knowledge, predictions). Science only deals with the past. Therefore, although the word ‘science’ derives from the Latin ‘scire’, meaning knowledge, it has nothing at all to do with knowledge.
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knowledge (to know): to describe the result of an experiment without error (syn: prediction). Knowledge only deals with the future.
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explanation (to explain): The prosecutor’s version of how or why a consummated event happened. (syn: theory).
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to explain: To disclose the manner in which an individual believes a consummated event occurred. An explanation deals exclusively with the past.
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In Science, we do NOT waste our time ‘predicting’ where Mercury will be tomorrow or next year or whether there will be an eclipse because of it. In Science, we must EXPLAIN WHY Mercury doesn’t drift out of the Solar System. In Science, we do NOT spend the hours toying with magnets and ‘predicting’ that they will attract iron filings at such and such rate. In Science, we must EXPLAIN WHY a magnet attracts another and repels it when we turn one of them around. In Science, we do NOT live our lives measuring and calculating the speed of light to ever more digits. In Science, we must EXPLAIN WHY light travels so fast and WHY c = ƒ λ (i.e., WHY c is a constant and frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength)."
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knowledge (to know): to describe the result of an experiment without error (syn: prediction). Knowledge only deals with the future.
.
explanation (to explain): The prosecutor’s version of how or why a consummated event happened. (syn: theory).
.
to explain: To disclose the manner in which an individual believes a consummated event occurred. An explanation deals exclusively with the past.
.
In Science, we do NOT waste our time ‘predicting’ where Mercury will be tomorrow or next year or whether there will be an eclipse because of it. In Science, we must EXPLAIN WHY Mercury doesn’t drift out of the Solar System. In Science, we do NOT spend the hours toying with magnets and ‘predicting’ that they will attract iron filings at such and such rate. In Science, we must EXPLAIN WHY a magnet attracts another and repels it when we turn one of them around. In Science, we do NOT live our lives measuring and calculating the speed of light to ever more digits. In Science, we must EXPLAIN WHY light travels so fast and WHY c = ƒ λ (i.e., WHY c is a constant and frequency is inversely proportional to wavelength)."
