FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE
People today often underestimate the limits of knowledge because they are very confident in science. They believe that as science advances, it will soon be able to solve all problems related to knowledge. This belief comes from thinking that science can find every specific fact we need. However, civilization grows not by each person knowing more, but by using the knowledge that is already spread among many people.
Science can successfully explain simple things but has trouble with complex ones because it cannot find out all the specific facts required to make accurate predictions. A good example of this is in the study of evolution, where knowing all past and future conditions is impossible.
Additionally, many think that science only studies what exists, not what could happen. The real strength of science is its ability to discuss what might occur if certain conditions changed. This misunderstanding is especially important in political science, where focusing only on current facts may lead to unhelpful conclusions for the future. Good social science should explore potential situations that might happen if we change certain conditions, rather than just looking at what’s already there.
People today often underestimate the limits of knowledge because they are very confident in science. They believe that as science advances, it will soon be able to solve all problems related to knowledge. This belief comes from thinking that science can find every specific fact we need. However, civilization grows not by each person knowing more, but by using the knowledge that is already spread among many people.
Science can successfully explain simple things but has trouble with complex ones because it cannot find out all the specific facts required to make accurate predictions. A good example of this is in the study of evolution, where knowing all past and future conditions is impossible.
Additionally, many think that science only studies what exists, not what could happen. The real strength of science is its ability to discuss what might occur if certain conditions changed. This misunderstanding is especially important in political science, where focusing only on current facts may lead to unhelpful conclusions for the future. Good social science should explore potential situations that might happen if we change certain conditions, rather than just looking at what’s already there.