In response to my recent assertion that "Science may not be able to state with 100% certainty that something is true"
George Pinto wrote: > >4 years ago I was trying to make this point in an e-exchange with >you and you seemed to disagree. >Have you revised your position since then? Just curious. > Hi George: As incredible as it may be sound to you I knew you would ask me that question, and Joel Almeida as well, if he is still on Goanet. But my response to your question is, No, I have not revised my position. Please note I have phrased my statement this time. I did NOT say that there is NOTHING that Science can state to be true with 100% certainty. In other words, there are some things that science determines to be 100% true, for all practical purposes. There are innumerable examples of such things. Here are a few: 1. The Earth is spheroidal 2. The Earth moves round the Sun in an elliptical orbit. 3. Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen. 4. There are 6.022 X 10 raised to the power of 23 molecules in 18 milliliters of pure water. 5. Body tissues are made up of cells with well-defined structures. 6. Inheritance of biological traits can be completely explained by a chemical called DNA. 7. The heart is a muscular pump that pumps blood. 8. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria. 9. We perceive the world, think, love, have moods, have urges, have desires and have religious experiences because of a functioning brain. 10. The functioning of the brain is dependent on electricity. However, there are also many factual statements which science cannot state to be true with 100% certainty. Here I am not talking about philosophical issues such as the universal constancy of laws of physics or the existence of other universes with different laws or what would happen if the arrow of time points in the opposite direction. I am only talking about practical things. Examples of factual statements of practical significance that may not be 100% true are: 1. The universe began in a Big Bang. 2. Quarks and leptons are fundamental irreducible particles of matter. 3. There are only four physical forces in nature. 4. Evolution of life occurred by a gradual process. 5. Dinosaurs became extinct because of a meteoritic collision. 6. Fatty diet causes heart disease. 7. Consciousness in required for cognition. Cheers, Santosh ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
