What Is Science



Science is:


1) Processes for creating reliable models for prediction and control of the natural world,

2) Models that result from the application of those processes, and

3) The application of those models.

Science is defined in terms of its utility. It has no necessary bearing on reality or truth in any fundamental way; e.g., God could have created the universe 5 min ago with just the right attributes to make it look as it does now. You cannot know otherwise.

Note that this definition of science describes what science does, not how it is created (in contrast with Joshua's definition above). Certainly, describing how science is created is important if you trying to teach someone how to do science, but it is not useful in deciding what is science and what is not science.

For example, suppose that I tell you that I can turn the moon green by waving my magic wand. I then wave my magic wand, and *poof*, the moon turns green. Is that science? I say, 'yes'.

From your perspective, my advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. And it doesn't matter how my technology was created; it is clearly science, as it provides reliable prediction and control of the natural world.

Some scientific processes for creating reliable models include 'test for effect', 'test for optimal value', 'test for existence', and 'test for cause/classification'. The Scientific Method is a commonly used means for addressing tests for cause or classification, though it typically does not apply in the other cases.



An example application of the Scientific Method in a 'test for cause' is in diagnosing why a clothes dryer won't start. You start by creating hypotheses;

e.g., 'the door is not closed', 'the circuit breaker tripped', and 'the control electronics are damaged'. Then you design experiments to eliminate hypotheses

(e.g., check the circuit breaker to see if it is tripped). Ideally, once you have finished testing, only one hypothesis remains, which is the answer. 
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About Akash Manhas

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