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Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

14. You're failing to ask epistemic questions.

Mon Jan 6, 2014, 03:57 AM

Jan 2014

What you're posing is a very structuralist argument. And it ignores the capacity for scientific thought to produce false realities.

The common structuralist claim is that science is the persistent endeavor to reach out and touch "truth." I don't agree with this claim at all. Scientific endeavor, in fact most truth seeking, very often revolves around constructing evidence that fits a preconceived narrative. And the "truth" sought after very often turns out to be nothing but myth. It's enough to bring into serious doubt the very existence of truth.

Portraying science as impenetrably noble, constantly withstanding the barrage of ignoble anti-science, just isn't historically accurate. That just isn't how it works.

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Science is the reason we live so well in the 21st century. Woo is what held it back for so long [View all] Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 OP

Precisely. "Magical thinking." Lizzie Poppet Jan 2014 #1

So vitamin supplements were the cause for holding civilization back. ok. Katashi_itto Jan 2014 #2

"vitamin supplements" are but one element of the domain "woo" Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #4

And they have held civilization back too. This whole Woo thing is total nonsense Katashi_itto Jan 2014 #18

If vitamin supplements are but one element of the domain "woo," why do doctors prescribe JDPriestly Jan 2014 #19

Copernicus' ideas were considered "woo" at the time, by conventional thinkers of the day. Electric Monk Jan 2014 #3

you mean the conventional pope who wanted to kill him if he dared say the earth wasn't Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #5

Is it that different than "conventional medicine" orgs like the AMA vs Chiropractors? Electric Monk Jan 2014 #6

show me your scientific data then. Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #7

By his or her logic, ProgressSaves Jan 2014 #9

At 2 in the morning on a Sunday night? Google it yourself, lol. Electric Monk Jan 2014 #11

Science adjusts its beliefs based on what's observed. ProgressSaves Jan 2014 #8

Intelligent design was at one point held to high academic esteem. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #10

Thank you, that's a very good way to put it. They (OP et al) are framing it backwards. nt Electric Monk Jan 2014 #12

The OP is a pretzel. Luminous Animal Jan 2014 #16

no, I actually don't. scientific method will observe and accept or reject various hypotheses Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2014 #13

You're failing to ask epistemic questions. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #14

Postmodernist nonsense Confusious Jan 2014 #17

Actually, gravity is very much a mystery Drahthaardogs Jan 2014 #21

"Postmodernism is shit, and it has no clothes." - Want to talk about par for the course. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author HangOnKids Jan 2014 #27

Christianity fucked us over and continues to do so by labeling science as woo. Luminous Animal Jan 2014 #15

Better living through chemistry. BlueToTheBone Jan 2014 #20

toilet paper is the height of civilisation, especially the real soft stuff. thank you science. loli phabay Jan 2014 #36

The older the tree, the softer on your tush. n/t BlueToTheBone Jan 2014 #40

i thought it was the bushier the bush. loli phabay Jan 2014 #41

When JFK talked of putting a man on the moon... NCTraveler Jan 2014 #23

There's a difference between thinking something is too hard to do... Humanist_Activist Jan 2014 #24

Woo has gone so far here, at this point its use has been broadened. NCTraveler Jan 2014 #25

I do kind of agree with you. NCTraveler Jan 2014 #30

No, no, no. NuclearDem Jan 2014 #26

Three no's, that's big time. NCTraveler Jan 2014 #28

No! A thousand times no! NuclearDem Jan 2014 #32

Love it. nt. NCTraveler Jan 2014 #33

Your post is woo by your own definition. Vattel Jan 2014 #38

Bad! Bad! NuclearDem Jan 2014 #39

True, but... Capt. Obvious Jan 2014 #29

Get back to us on this ohheckyeah Jan 2014 #31

lawdy, lawdy Puzzledtraveller Jan 2014 #34

Just don't confuse skepticism as woo. Glassunion Jan 2014 #35

Fossil fuels are the reason we lived so well in the 20th century. bemildred Jan 2014 #37