Is Science Progressive?

Frederico Miguel

Block: 4

Is Science Progressive?

            It has been a long time since societies started to acknowledge the discoveries of science to presumably create a better world. If we assume, that progressive means getting new technologies, then it is fair to assume that our century has much more technology than 2 centuries ago. However, if we assume progressive means getting answers, then there might be an argument whether science is getting more knowledge or more questions. In Popper’s Falsifiability he presents an argument saying how science tries to answer questions that are falsifiable. This means that scientists focus on mysteries that we can prove to be wrong or right. Something like the existence of God, ghosts or supernatural beings, for example, is not falsifiable. Therefore, science will not work on proving them. Usually, a hypothesis will be made, together with a procedure to attempt to find a solution for the mystery. Something that is not falsifiable does not follow the scientific method; therefore, this area of knowledge cannot be applied. In those cases, the area faith might be used better.

            According to Kuhn’s theory of scientific revolution, we used the area of knowledge to answer the natural questions of the world. For example, we use biology to analyze animals, bacteria and other living beings. We study not only for knowledge, but also because we want to classify and understand the world we live in. Still, we have other types of sciences. For example, sociology is the area of science where we try to study the structure and development of human society and the problems we have in them. Kuhn also suggested that science has its own anomalies. They are falsifiable questions that cannot be proven due to the lack of technology or a bad approach to the question. When this happens, a time of crises is established. However, when the approach is successful, a new paradigm is settled. This paradigm shift changed the way scientists approached each question. For example, when newton proved the force of gravity, a new paradigm was established and everybody started considering gravity when doing their experiments. According to Kuhn, science is progressing, because future generations are getting the same knowledge and expanding it in order to discover new paradigms.

            Another way science helps us understand the world is by classifying everything they can. The periodic table is a great example of how we put in patterns things that are really different but it makes sense to leave them in one category because of their similarities. We have a table method that will be able support any new element that might be discovered. This is due to the way elements behave and are categorized. If a new element has an atomic mass of 294 and have its outermost shell completely full, then it would fit into the noble gases column, right under Radon. In the other hand, we might find something that behaves like a noble gas, do not bond with any other element, but does not have an outermost shell. Then, is it still an element? How would we categorize it? In this case, science will try to come up with new types of classification to make it fit in the table or it would create a new table to put every “element” that has no outermost shell. Science has a responsibility of making everything fit into their own spot because humans make classification, not nature.

            Nowadays, a plethora of scientists are trying to prove the String Theory. This seemingly impossible task is falsifiable but we are still in crises because there has been no good approach to change our paradigm. However, with the particle accelerator, scientists might be able to prove that everything in the whole universe is made up of flexible molecular strings. If something like that is proven, then one might argue that science has come a long way and that is progressing every moment. This knowledge would bring us the discovery of new dimensions, which might make us rethink every physics law in the space continuum and change the human perception forever. This connects with my physics class on which we are studying the way an eye works. We saw how our mind will always try to shape something to fit into the three dimensions that we live in. If by any means we found out that there are eleven dimensions, as the string theory suggests, won’t our eyes try to adapt and to it throughout time? As light comes in through the cornea and reaches the retina, our cones and rods interpret them as color and shapes. If we had any new types of cells in our retina, we could be able to see more things. A thorough investigation in this theory might give us the chance of changing the evolutionary path and create things for our own body.

            Progress can be measured in several ways. Science is developing gradually throughout this years and made great scientific discoveries. Scientists are surpassing the evolutionary path and creating themselves our own anatomic development. When we see artificial legs and arms being controlled by the brain, we see how humans are trying to manipulate nature. Some people might argue that this is incorrect and that it is a contrary movement from progression. Science is now taking away the greater power of evolution and making something that is unnatural. Nevertheless, science is discovering new things every day and the more knowledge we have, the better it is for everybody to understand the world and create better lives.