Science is the only sound basis for understanding ourselves and interacting with others
Human beings have made numerous attempts to understand the world and phenomena happening in it. Science is one of the approaches that have been used by people to discover this knowledge. One of the greatest strengths of science is that it is systematic enough than any other process of evaluation. Science utilizes systematic processes and approaches to gather knowledge and come up with inferences (Evans, 2002). A systematic approach means that there are clearly defined steps and procedures to follow when studying a given phenomena. These are in relation to how evidence is collected and analyzed to arrive at a conclusion.
Use of systematic processes gives science credibilty, as not only are we able to obtain knowledge, but we are also able know how this knowledge was obtained and analyzed. Systematic processes also give science the ability to replicated knowledge when given the same parameters. This introduces some aspect on consistency and reliablity in science.There are certainly other ways of understanding, but science, because of its systematic process, is the only sound, viable method (Myers, 2010).
Another strength of science is that its knowledge is evidence based (Evans, 2002). Science utilizes emperical evidence to derive conclusion concerning different phenomena. Empirical evidence generally refers to data that is objective (non-subjective). These are such as; statistics, observation and deduction. While science is based on concrete, quantitative data, it also involves informed theory and hypothesis, which is how the scientific method is able to use specific data to formulate a “bigger picture” (McFarland, 2006).
Theories and concepts are constantly evaluated and tested until a comprhensive conclusion is arrived. And while other ways of knowing, such as art, philosophy, and faith, may provide a sense of the logic and order of life – the “bigger picture,” so to speak – science is the only method that is based on readily observable phenomenon. This allows the results to be observed by and communicated to others in a concrete, reliable fashion. Relying on concrete evidence improves the validity of data collected and knowledge derived through these scientic processes. Without denying the beauty and value in other ways of understanding the world, we argue that science is the only way to do so in a consistent and reliable manner.
References
Myers, D. G. (2010). Psychology (9th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishing.
Evans, J. C. (2002). Science: A way of knowing. Retrieved from http://physics.gmu.edu/~jevans/astr103/CourseNotes/science_aWayOfKnowing.html
McFarland, M. C., SJ. (2006). “Other Ways of Knowing” and Liberal Education. Retrieved from http://www.collegenews.org/x6316.xml.
