Science and Theory

One of my favorite blogs for consistently posting interesting material on a number of subjects is Smashing Telly. The blog is "a collection of the best free, instantly available, TV on the web" (quoted from its mission statement). One of its most recent posts was this 10-minute video explaining scientific theory and calling out those who disagree with science because of personal bias.



The video doesn't say anything I haven't heard before in science classes in college but it does put it in an accessible, concise way which is valuable. Overall, though, I doubt this would change anyone's mind who already doesn't believe in some scientific theories because of a religious belief or another. As Smashing Telly commenter Dan Westlake says, "Who is this aimed at?...obsessive atheists of the Richard Dawkin’s type who enjoy nothing more than having their belief system confirmed." I do agree with what is said in the video, although sometimes I think it can be way too cut and dry. Scientific theory is fact but there are a few important things, I think, that are being left out.

My main problem with arguments such as these is the importance that is put on Science within our life. Yes, without science a lot of indisputably really important things to 21st century life wouldn't exist or be understood. But, why is science something that everyone has to believe in? Argue with me if you think otherwise, but this pressure to accept everything that's classified as scientific truth without pause is just as bad as the pressure put upon us through those evangelizing their religions. Somehow science should be different. It should be considered a little more like math. I don't have to think about it much, but I know it's there when I need it.

this is what a scientist looks like

Connected to the pressure for blind belief in science is the a-little-too-shaky-for-me concept of "truth". I'm not going to go all postmodern zany on yall (s0 freshman/sophomore year of college, right????) but it kind of does freak me out when truth is considered so...true. This video is all like "the function of science is to capture reality!"; "hey you crazies! leave science for those with the discipline and integrity to look for evidence that makes facts!". And I'm all "ugh". All that just sounds like holier-than-thou crap. Science might currently be changing but it has essentially been created, up until now, by a lot of affluent dudes. I'll concede that in the way, way past there was a lot of scientific work done by Islamic philosophers/scientists and that is great. Not EVERYTHING science has come up with has a complete Western slant. But still, it's problematic that this video hails truths (even when they're scientific theories that are checked, re-checked and changed) when things like medical science seems to be currently interested only in things that those with money are interested in. For example, it seems every day breast cancer research is getting more funding, but there are still more medicines that haven't even been tested on women although they are prescribed to them daily. Even if every theory that scientists publish is fact (which is probably is at the time of publication) there is still the question of those theories that didn't make the budget. There are so many things that haven't been discussed or scientifically examined because of money. It's very questionable to mix capitalism and science and then force that science as truth onto everyone everywhere.

I cannot deny the importance and truthfulness of major scientific theories like the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Evolution, but this very real and very old scientific thought is lumped in with others that might be "true" but perhaps not valuable or for everyone. Who knows, there might also be some very important scientific ideas that are put aside and not discussed enough because they aren't marketable. This is why videos of this nature bother me. Maybe there can't be absolute truths, just what scientists are told through observation, experimentation and logic. And maybe that just isn't good enough.