Reply To: Why do you believe in Science?

OneofMany,

Please don’t take offense at this: That is nonsense. Belief is integral to science (and everything else) at every level. In science, as in any other practical discipline, choices need to be made without perfect knowledge and those choices will based on beliefs. Not to mention the many other beliefs, such as the belief in the validity of inductive reasoning (mentioned above), the belief in the ability of our senses and mind to accurately perceive reality, the belief that our partners and colleagues are being truthful, etc.

When you live with “doubt, uncertainty and unkowing” you have no choice but live with belief. You may not know that gravity is real, and you certainly don’t understand what causes it, but you are still going to act as if it was real. That is belief. It isn’t 100% certainty, it isn’t absolute knowledge, it is belief upon which you base the way you live your life.

As an aside, “falsifiability” was recent element introduced into science as way keeping science rational despite the inductive fallacy I started this conversation with. Most beliefs are falsifiable.