RE: Fairy Stories

Marc Safley (Marc.Safley@usda.gov)
Thu, 27 Aug 1998 11:28:00 -0400

In the ongoing discussion it seems that there is confusion over what is
science, what is method, and how that method is practiced. The question was
raised "When a phenomenon isn't explainable by science, when will we question
the science?'

Science is a state of knowing and also systematized knowledge. The scientific
method is a collection of principles and procedures for the systematic pursuit
of knowledge.

Science does not explain phenomena, rather it is application of the scientific
method that adds knowledge of likely causes of phenomena to the body of
knowledge we call "science." But, as with all human tools, the method can be
applied with varying results to various ends by various persons. This is why
knowledge derived through the scientific method is not usually considered to
be operational if it cannot be reproduced through independent investigation.

The scientific method is, indeed, good at compartmentalization and measurement
of discrete units. It is also good at describing systems and their functions.
Scientists observed long ago that systems have attributes and functions that
are greater than the sum of their parts.

The knowledge base (science) represented by what we call homeopathy has
validity in contexts just as other knowledges have in their own contexts when
that knowledge is verifiable.

Marc Safley
marc.safley@usda.gov

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