Warner Pacific College
July 27, 2014
Scientific Method and Western Culture
Science
is a core value and belief system of Western culture. Scientific knowledge has
been made possible by reason and logical problem solving. This has marked the
history of science, which has in turn grown roots in the history of Western
culture and its development. The scientific method is a formula that helps the
process of understanding the world in which we live in. “The scientific method
is a technique for testing ideas with observations. There is nothing mysterious
or intimidating about the scientific method; it is merely a formalized version
of the way any of us might naturally use logic to resolve a question”
(Withgott, J & Laposata, M, 2013, p. 10). The knowledge and processes we as a society have gained from
science has put us ahead in many ways, but I believe some of these practices
have left us searching for the answers to big questions without thinking
outside of the scientific box. “Compare Western science with traditional knowledge.
Whereas Western science favor’s reductionist, mechanistic and quantitative
methods, traditional knowledge observes natural phenomena from a global point
of view” (Laccarino, 2003, Table 2). The scientific method starts with
observation, which is the oldest way to solve a problem.
The scientific method is a six step
technique that helps scientist and people alike solve problems or prove their
specific hypothesis. This is a simple way to lay things out in order to piece
together the questions and answers the world is searching for. Observation is
where these questions start once a phenomenon or issue is presented. We use
observation to establish a problem, assess safety or the situation, and to see
how the natural orders of things work or are working. Once a person or group
has been able to observe the situation it is a natural response to have
questions about why and how things are the way they are. “Curiosity is a
fundamental human characteristic” (Withgott, 2013, p. 10) and we see this play
out in everyday life. I think that every idea starts with a question. In our
culture we have learned how to question things and not just take things at face
value. Through questions our curiosity drives us to seek for answers and truth.
“A
hypothesis is a statement that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a
scientific question” (Withgott, 2013, p.11) which gives us a place to start
researching and deducting. When a scientist makes the hypothesis then
predictions of the outcomes are produced. Predictions can be tested by several
different techniques, and the hypothesis is either found to be true or can be
disputed. To test these predictions experiments will need to be performed to
gather evidence. “An experiment is an activity designed to test validity of a
prediction or hypothesis” (Withgott, 2013, p.11), and from there data needs to
be collected in order for the person or persons to analyze the finding which
leads to the results or outcomes. This may appear to be a clear cut way to come
to logical explanations, but many times “the scientific method loops back on
itself, often giving rise to repeated rounds of hypothesis revision and new
experimentation” (Withgott, 2013, p. 11). Many different tests and retests may
have to be administered throughout this process until a scientific answer is
agreed upon and retested by peer reviews. Repeatability and reliability is
critical in order to give the world the most accurate answers to world’s big
questions.
It
is important to have a way to find the truth and not rely on one person’s
opinions and beliefs. A person’s reality can be skewed by many different
things, but the facts are hard to dispute once they have been properly tested
and retested. “The
defining feature of the scientific revolution lies in how much scientific
thought changed during a period of only a century, and in how quickly differing
thoughts of different natural philosophers condensed to form a cohesive
experimental method that chemists, biologists, and physicists can easily
utilize today”(Kent, J. 2006). Western culture has made great strides to
improve the world we live in, and is making even more changes and discoveries
that are needed to continue to make the world a cohesive place for all humans,
animals, plants and the planet itself. There is so much left to learn, and I
think that we can move towards observation of non-westernized cultures for some
of the answers we are searching for to enhance the
longevity of the planet and overall health of its people.
References
Kent, J. (2013, January 10). The impact of the
scientific revolution: A breif history of the experimental method in the 17th
century. Retrieved from OpenStax-CNX WebSite: Retrieved from the
OpenStax-CNX Web site: http://cnx.org/content/m13245/1.1/
Laccarino, M. (2013,
1 3). Science and Culture. Retrieved from EMBO report:
http://embor.embopress.org/content/4/3/220 DOI: 10.1038/sj.embor.embor781
Withgott, J. &.
(2013). Environment the science behind the stories. Boston: Person
Education.
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