Can Science Answer All Important Human Questions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the scope of science in answering important human questions, the efficiency of scientific inquiry, and the classification of creation science. Participants explore the boundaries of scientific inquiry, the nature of important questions, and the role of philosophy and theology in addressing questions that may lie outside the empirical realm.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that science is a tool for understanding the environment and may potentially address philosophical questions.
  • Others assert that science is limited to demonstrable inquiries and cannot answer all important human questions, suggesting that philosophy or theology may be more suitable for such inquiries.
  • There is a discussion about the efficiency of science, with some noting its significant progress over the past few centuries, particularly in technology.
  • Participants question the classification of creation science, with some suggesting it fits within the methodology of science while others argue it does not align with secular scientific standards.
  • One participant emphasizes the subjective nature of defining what constitutes an important question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the scope and efficiency of science, as well as the classification of creation science. There is no consensus on whether science can answer all important questions or on the nature of important inquiries.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the ambiguity in defining "important" and "efficient," and there are unresolved questions regarding the boundaries between scientific and non-scientific inquiries.

dekoi
What sort of inquiry is within the scope of science?
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Can science hope to answer all the important questions humans are looking for answers to?
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Is Science 'efficient' ?
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Are creation scientists really scientists at all? Are they wasting their time in an arena that they simply can't hope to 'win' in?

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Would be greatly interesting to see some of the subjective statements made by members. Thanks for being such good participants like always.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
1. Scientific ones
2. define important
3 define efficient
4. is a dangerous question to ask, and possibly outside the remit of this forum.
 
science is a tool that allows us to understand our environment in the what, when, where, how, and why. the sharper that tool, the better we can understand it. it is possible that science can answer the unanswered philosophical questions of our modern time.
 
What sort of inquiry is within the scope of science?

Demonstrable inquiries. Speculation about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin is a theological and philosophical inquiry, not a scientific one.


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Quote:
Can science hope to answer all the important questions humans are looking for answers to?

No, science is a philosophical method or tool, no different from logistics or semantics. Philosophy or theology may be able to answer such questions, but science is a method, not an answer or series of answers.

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Quote:
Is Science 'efficient' ?

Sometimes. Like any tool it can be used, abused, and neglected.


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Quote:
Are creation scientists really scientists at all? Are they wasting their time in an arena that they simply can't hope to 'win' in?

Again, science is a methodology for collecting and organizing data. Creation Science is a true science in this sense of the word, but is not a science in the sense of secular academic sciences which promote experimentation and objectivity.
 
Great answers. I'm glad i was able to post questions which only the most intelligent could answer in a valid way.

Thank you.
 
dekoi said:
What sort of inquiry is within the scope of science?

Science can address questions related to the natural universe, which are questions that have the potential of empirical verification or falsification. However, some metaphysical positions (e.g. naturalism) state that all that exists is the natural universe, and in this case any question is within the realm of science.

dekoi said:
Can science hope to answer all the important questions humans are looking for answers to?

What is an unimportant question? I have never known one. :smile:

dekoi said:
Is Science 'efficient' ?

If we consider scientific progress over the past 300 years in comparison with the rest of history and science's impact on technology, then, yes, science has been efficient, particularly during the last 100 years. Our ability to control the motion of invisible electrons has resulted in technology our ancestors would have deemed magical. It's exciting to think about where science and technology will be going in the next 100 years.

dekoi said:
Are creation scientists really scientists at all? Are they wasting their time in an arena that they simply can't hope to 'win' in?

This question is best asked in the religion section of the forum.
 
I appreciate the reply Artorius, although i have transferred by discussion about this topic to "The Scientific Method" posted by Glenn. See you there. :)
 

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