How reliable is science? (Assumption 2/7) (The limitations of science)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Thursday, April 26, 2012, 01:23 (4593 days ago) @ xeno6696


> At what point are you willing to accept basic assumptions though? Are you arguing that every paper should include a statement saying that for its findings to hold, the assumption of "methodological materialism" must hold? I'm a philosopher by hobby, but seriously, I'm not going to write every single assumption from genesis to the present just in case some poor sap might not get all my assumptions! That's the job for science journalists and 
> 
> -
We have databases for less important things, why not a database that covers scientific assumptions and or dependencies. Heck, I could even see there being some interesting research coming out of that as causal and even casual relationships that were previously unidentified come to light, particularly if the database was cross-discipline. Bonus points if it could build a graphical web of the connections. Double bonus points if you were able to link reference numbers to journals/papers that discussed the relationship/assumptions being made. That would be a truly powerful tool and would probably go very far in helping people become 'educated laypersons'.-
> ...professional philosophers!!!! 
> ...educated laypeople!!!! (Such as ourselves.) 
> 
> But journalists and philosophers are the ones who need to translate the papers into lay terms. If there's a fault in regards to the layman, it's in translation. And a lack of diligence. 
> -No disagreement there, really, but it is a knife that cuts both ways. A scientist should, if relying on someone else to be their mouthpiece, speak out loudly when they are being misrepresented.--> Ah. In my work, errors are usually measured in "who made the last commit" and putting a tally mark next to the guys name. 
> -Some form of SVN programming?-
> Obviously joking, but as an engineer: use the error mechanism that makes the most sense.-Just make sure that the mechanism and the error is well known. -In reference to your earlier mention of public libraries and what not, sadly, not all libraries are as well equipped as the one you are using. It was not until I attended university the first time outside of my home state that I had access to a DECENT library, and it wasn't until my current University that I had access to book-loan programs.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.