Science is the objective branch of knowledge. Yet objectivity is not an absolute, and it is not guaranteed simply by supplying measurements. Objectivity lies in scientific models and their predictive powers. Objectivity is not a discrete entity, either present or absent, but is a continuously valued parameter.
Even when all may agree, science begins to doubt. Not only does the scientific process require the breadth of shared knowledge, but to advance, it must continuously challenge and retest what will become, in the end, subjective beliefs of individuals. Often, the new thrust of progress comes like the bursting of a dam, overcoming what was once obvious and accepted. What is universally held is suspicious, especially when it is a tacit part of the assumptions.
Of course, the scientist can be as subjective as any other human being. Media overflows with examples. Large, prestigious bodies of scientists can be wrong. When they abandon method and express unanimity, the odds increase that they are. The odds become astronomical when the body or its members can dip more deeply into government or commercial coffers as a result of their recommendations.
We can consider here the popular and controversial phrase, “Most scientists believe …” This phrase is inappropriate to science but perfectly acceptable when applied to scientists. For example, most scientists believe in ethical conduct and social responsibility. Most scientists believe professional recognition is important.
But while scientists may have beliefs, science may not. Scientists have subjectively favored theories, which can range from which procedure is likely to work (that is, to produce the desired result and to gain peer approval) to which theory is likely to receive reinforcement, modification, or fusion in a larger body of theory. Science has principles, conjectures, and hypotheses, but not beliefs. Science does not accept concepts as true. Instead, science challenges its own most cherished foundations. Each discovery, each new theory, each new crack in certainty is a commandment to reexamine the footings. The objective branch of knowledge demands nothing less.
Additional Reading
- Modern Science
- The Scientific Method, Part 1
- The Scientific Method, Part 2
- Elements of Science: Definitions
- Elements of Science: Observations & Measurements
- Elements of Science: Models & Predictions
- Elements of Science: Experiments & Validation
Scientists vs. Science: Notes on Objectivity
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