What is and isn't science

Does Science Overrule the Existence of God?

Is intelligent design science? Should it be taught in science classes? What is science and what is it not?

The debate over the theory of evolution as a overruling of the existence of God has been going on in America for a long time. This should not be so. The debate becomes a lot clearer if one looks at the theory of evolution as a logical progression of science. It is just one small building block in the subject that we call science. It therefore has to abide by the rules of scientific study. Which is what this article is about.

Science seeks to explain the world through theories and hypotheses. By its very nature science allows itself to the refuted. It is through conjecture and refutation science progresses. In fact, refutation is such a fundamental tenet of science that irrefutable theories cannot be science. This is why God cannot be a part of
science. One cannot prove or disprove the existence of God.

Science typically proceeds in small steps. Little theories explain little observations and these theories are attached through further observations and the body of observations that can be explained grows.

A simple example is given here:

Consider the observations:
1. An apple falls from a tree
2. A hot air balloon rises

Explanations:
1. Earth pulls the apple down
2. Sky pulls the balloon up.

Counter questions:
1. Why does the sky not pull up the apple
2. Why does the earth not pull the balloon.

Second attempt.
1. Earth pulls apple down but air pushes it up.
However the pull wins.
2. Earth pull the balloon down but the air pushes it up.
In this case the push wins.

Second set of counter questions:
1. Why does the pull win
2. Why does the push win

Third attempt
1. The apple occupies a certain volume. The weight of the same volume of air is lighter than the apple hence it cannot be held up.
2. The balloon occupies a certain volume. The weight of the same volume of air is heavier than the balloon hence it goes up.

Test in the lab.
1. Measure the weights of equal volumes of apple and air and compare. Test if the explanation holds
2. Measure the weights of equal volumes of air and balloon and compare. Test if the explanation holds

Now, following these experiments we have a theory. This is roughly how science progresses. (What I made up here has had an incredibly rich history in science and includes work from masters such as Aristotle, Archimedes, Galileo and Newton.)

It is important to note that at every step the explanation (or theory) is open to refutation. Even today someone could come and refute the latest (accepted) explanations. However this person has to refute it in a manner that allows itself to be tested and possibly refuted again. If his explanation cannot be tested or cannot be proved then it is not science anymore.

Why is proof so important to science? Without proof we don't know what is rigorously correct (within a certain parameter space). More importantly we cannot predict what will happen next. For example, from the above explanations we can figure out what will float and what will sink. (Archimedes used it to test the purity of gold!) Objectivity is fundamental to science. It is this objectivity that gives us predictability.

Theory of evolution can give us pointers to where living things are headed. It may not be possible to see or observe the effects of evolution on humans or our pets. However it is quite clear in the way it works on bacteria and viruses. Rampant misuse of antibiotics has caused bacteria to evolve so that they are immune
to medicines. In the absence of anything better,the theory of evolution the the only way we can study the effect of this and how to prevent it from happening further. Intelligent design, while offering an attractive explanation for the current state of the world cannot help us in preventing the potential epistemological disaster.

Theory of evolution is by no means a closed subject. For that matter nothing is science is closed. Even solidly accepted theories fail in certain situations. Well understood and universally taught Newtons laws of motion are found deficient when explaining very small or very fast moving bodies.

A good science education must always teach the student of science to conjecture and to refute. It should teach the student to listen to others' conjectures and refutations. Most important of all that there is nothing sacred about science.

Science does not demand that it be understood and respected. There are any number of people in this world who barely understand the science behind everyday events and activities. It is just another field that some people find interesting to study and offer theories.

This raises the question why is there such a push to pass intelligent design as science? There are many other classes and forums in which these notions can be introduced to children. Teach them everything, religion,
philosophy and science. Teach them to respect everything, religion, philosophy and science.