We have to respect the limits of human knowledge!

We humans are an arrogant species, and we are constantly tripping over
our arrogance. One of the classig pitfalls are our repeated attempt at
creating eplane it all theories. By definition explane it all theories
are an impossibility, because simply everything can´t be known.

Now in recent times there appears that an old faith is springing back
to life, namelly science-logy (not to be mistaken for scientology).
Science-logy is the believe that science explanes everything. Aderenta
of science logi appear among other to think that aderents of other
faith systems are either ignorant or some form of stupit, i.e. falling
for the old human arrogance.

Now, it´s a fact that human scientific knowledge is full of holes. So,
science does not explane everything. Another, lot of what is accepted
as scientific knowledge, is not firmly proven, yet it´s accepted as
likely or probable - in which case there usually is a theory which
ties the thing into a some sort of an intellectual whole.

Now, there is strichtly speaking nothing wrong with our scientific
knowledge, as long as its limits are appreciated, i.e. that it´s not
used to form the bases for some arrogant stance that science can
exlane everything.

Few examples of limits of human scientific knowledge. The speed of
light is the absolute speed limit in space. That means our knowledge
of astronomical phenomena is allways and ever out of date. Now, out of
date information has to carry some degree of uncertainty, increasingly
so with distance of time being involved. Now, today we can observe
objects as far away as 13 billion lights years. That means we are
observing those objects as they were that time ago. That means we have
no knowledge about theyr subsequent fate.

If we think merelly in terms of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, then it
´s 100.000 light years across. That means that our knowledge about
objects there within is quite often thousands of years out of date.
That means that theyr fate is not firmly known.

Basigly, even with the most nearmost stars, we only get confirmation
for theyr continued existence from every 6th. over to say every 20th.
year. Now, that does not mean that there is much to fear about theyr
existence even though our knowledge is ever out of date. Still, it´s
an actual remote possibility that one of them may have had a sudden
mishap in the meantime.

About the theory of evolution, while it may never become considered
firmly proven, it´s become very strongly supported by myriad of actual
scientific data, to such a degree that reasonable people tend to
accept that the ballance of doubt favours the theory of evolution over
alternate theories.

However, there still remains lots of holes in human knowledge, plenty
of scope for speculation. I have said if before here, that as long as
alternate faith systems are careful about not tripping over actual
proven facts or theories that are supported by proven facts, then
there is nothing what-so-ever which is obviously unreasonable in
following any one of them one takes a fancy to for whatever personal
motivations.

Einar

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: We have to respect the limits of human knowledge!
    ... By definition explane it all theories ... Science-logy is the believe that science explanes everything. ... for the old human arrogance. ... it´s a fact that human scientific knowledge is full of holes. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Is it true Mohammed was illiterate?
    ... >> CHRISTIANITY IS WRONG DOES NOT MEAN ISLAM IS CORRECT. ... >>> religion and science. ... >>> not to accept scientific knowledge coming from Muslims. ...
    (alt.religion.islam)
  • Re: New knock to geometrical view of gravity
    ... GR textbook gives the wrong limit. ... But you were arrogant enough to say "this is ... Nothing is ever PROVED in science. ... scientists as myself. ...
    (sci.physics.relativity)
  • Is it true Mohammed was illiterate?
    ... > CHRISTIANITY IS WRONG DOES NOT MEAN ISLAM IS CORRECT. ... >> religion and science. ... >> not to accept scientific knowledge coming from Muslims. ...
    (alt.religion.islam)
  • Re: Kerry voters and Evolution ...
    ... >> Where have I accused Charles of being arrogant? ... >> And I'm offended by his pronouncements of what Science is, ... > How has science kicked God out of anything? ... > existence of God....and never will. ...
    (rec.sport.football.college)