ASSIGNMENT

Q. Why is science considered more trustworthy method of knowing than tenacity, authority and intuition?

We know things in a number of different ways. As a result of our curious mind we are always in search of answers to unanswered questions. There are various methods of knowing. Among them the four widely accepted ways of knowing are:

a. Tenacity: In tenacity, people believe something is true because it has always been true and is commonly known to be true. People have faith just because of their tradition. Tenacity is unacceptable because it doesn’t permit any questioning. It is not verifiable.

b. Authority: Incase of authority, if a well-respected or authoritative source says that something is so and then it must be so. Authority is a subjective choice. Because of the subjectivity attached with authority we cannot be sure whether it is true.

c. Intuition: Intuition also known as prior method is based on the notion that people reach the truth because their natural inclination will be to do so. It agrees with reason and not necessarily with experience or rather experiments.

d. Science: No single path to discovery exists in science and no one clear out description can be given that accounts for all the ways in which scientific truth is pursued. Scientific method is objective and also its accepting is tested.

Besides, science all the other three methods of knowing are based only on observation which may be inaccurate. There is no touchstone against which its accuracy can be checked. However, science is the systematic study of anything that can be examined, tested and verified. Science develops through objective analysis, instead of through personal belief. Science seeks the systematic organization of information about the world and in doing so, discovers new relationships among natural phenomenon. It endeavors to explain why phenomena occur and how they are related.

The term ‘science’ is almost synonyms to ‘valid knowledge’. It is considered as the most trustworthy among the 4 ways of knowing due to the following characteristics:

a. Verifiable: The knowledge derived from science can be verified. Only when the work is verified and replicated through experiments will it be accepted as a scientific truth.

b. Objective: Science observes the things as they are without setting particular worldview affect the result or observation. The result of an experiment does not depend on the person conducting it.

c. Empirical: Empiricism is the central concept of science since science is the study of things that can be tested by sense and something which can convince. There should be certain proof which testifies the accuracy of knowledge.

d. Systematic: Science is defined as a systematic study. There are various steps for conducting a scientific study. Although the procedures to be adopted in a scientific investigation may differ according to the nature of investigation, type of phenomenon under investigation and the investigator himself or herself basic steps are the same.

e. Cumulative: Scientific studies are continuous. There is no end to it. Knowledge gained from previous studies are accumulated which helps in conducting new studies. Scientific study does not include only limited knowledge of self but of others and past result. Thus, scientific knowledge helps growing in a refined way.

f. Logical: Science does not mean merely following one’s belief and views. It is a system of reasoning. Inductive and deductive reasoning are used in scientific method.

Due to its characteristic, science is less to prone to errors. That is why people believe in science. Also, it is a state of objective human mind and follows a systematic procedure. In science, beliefs do not influence the truth. Scientific studies are conducted in such a manner that one’s thoughts and views have no effect over the result. The conclusion of the study shall be the same regardless of the researcher. The knowledge gained from experiment is not accepted as true until it is tested and opens to public inspection. In scientific method, there is no place for personal belief, perceptions, biases, values and emotions. It is a systematic study which involves a series of objective analysis. The truth is found only at the end which is purely objective. Hence, science is the most trustworthy among the four ways of knowing.