Is Science Progressive?

Is Science Progressive?

Renato Curiati 

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word “progressive” means, “happening or

developing gradually or in stages; proceeding step by step”. So is science

considered to be progressive? And to what extent is “step by step”? Until what

step is it considered progressive? All of these questions should be taken into

consideration, since different people will have different opinions on the big

question. In contrast to other subjects like philosophy, religion, art,

politics, among others, there are clear standards and criteria for identifying

improvements and advances in science. Normally, it is present once technology

has improved. Once this happens, then it becomes clear that science has

evolved. An evolvement may be as simple as a new tool, and also complex like

for example a cure for a disease. The important thing to notice is that any

advance in technology is a progression in science, and each person will

determine it according to his/her own schema.  

If we take Popper’s Falsifiability (falsifiability is to prove a statement to be false), he stresses the problem of demarcation (which is distinguishing the scientific from the unscientific). He states that demarcation is unscientific. But on the other hand, Kuhn challenged this idea of progress in “normal science”. With these two in mind, it is clear that there is a progression in science. Although one might argue that science is not progressive, scientists change their ideas, theories, methods, research, and so on. This change in technology and method demonstrates how science evolves as time goes by. Popper states one theory, and Kuhn another. Even though they disagree among themselves, it is this disagreement that shows that science is progressing. This whole debate is a positive thing because it advances science, and opens up a wide range of different research and theories. Every time science improves, it progresses.

According to the TOK Book, a good scientific theory should incorporate scientific laws and make existential or factual claim. Both philosophers have this in their theories. They incorporate the key elements for a strong scientific theory.

Another example of my own specific knowledge and a contemporary issue is the treatment

against AIDS. In the past, there were a huge number of deaths from people who

got the disease, and it was seen as incurable. But now technology has evolved,

and there is now a cure for AIDS, even though it is not 100% effective. Brazil

is known to have one of the best AIDS program in the world, which demonstrates

how science has progressed, and this is due to the increase in technology. Science

is evolving. What was once seen as impossible to achieve is now achievable.