I try to stay somewhat apolitical on this page, and I’ll do my best here. I like to write, so I do think about words, what they mean, and how they are used. There’s been a lot of use of the term Settled Science in the past few years. Its been used to describe different subjects including weather and climate, disease, origin, humanity, and energy. To be honest, it’s tossed around by both sides. To me, there is something a little conflicting in the use of that term – Settled Science. It is often used to dismiss the differing theories, opinion, discoveries, and even the search for other answers.
So, what is science?
Oxford Languages: 1. the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained.
- Cambridge Dictionary: (knowledge from) the careful study of the structure and behavior of the physical world, especially by watching, measuring, and doing experiments, and the development of theories to describe the results of these activities:
- pure/applied science
- recent developments in science and technology
- Space travel is one of the marvels/wonders of modern science.
Merriam-Webster: a) knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method; b) such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena : natural science
Science Council: Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.
The idea behind science is that it continues to look, search, and understand. It is derived from theories, which may prove out to a point, but in general, the search continues. As ideas are developed; as more evidence comes forward, the search for more detail, more understanding, results in the elimination of error. Those thoughts and theories are removed or reconsidered. Sure we know certain facts – for example we know our lungs take in oxygen, the heart circulates blood through out the body. We understand the functions of other organs, but we learn more about the human body all the time. If science is considered settled at some point; if all who search, stop searching; how do we continue to discard that which is not true?
Though still in use for some things, medicine once thought that the only way to heal disease was with these little creatures:
The cellphone has become an essential, almost a imperative part of life. What if we had settled the science on these?
Around 560 BCE, Anaximander, a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher developed this model of the world where Earth was at the center.
That was followed by the 360 BCE version of Plato’s vision, still seeing Earth as the center.
In the time when I went to school, the solar system was taught to be like this:
Poor Pluto. It isn’t even considered an official planet these days. Today, we have a much different view of our place in the solar system, how the solar system works, and travels through our galaxy and the universe.
In 1587 this was the view of the Earth.
Today we see Earth a little differently:
As time goes by, we learn more; we understand more; our conclusions change with added information. New discoveries give us a different vision. Think of all the things that have changed throughout your lifetime. The a fore mentioned phones that aren’t tied down by landlines. Computers that fit in the palm of your hand. Libraries of information available at a keystroke. From folded maps purchased at gas stations to GPS that speaks to us and reminds us of each turn (or leads us in a direction we didn’t intend to go). Diseases we have beaten, treatments that have changed, perspectives which have transformed the way we see things. All have some basis in science and gained knowledge; all transforming as more information, technology, or discovery comes forth. Sometimes we head in one direction following the science, only to find that with more science, we need to head in another direction.
So, from my perspective at least, it seems that science – if it really is science – is seldom settled.
