Devin+Nathaniel's+What+is+Science?

When posed with the question of “what is this science?” one must look at several things and take them into account before even beginning to fathom an answer. Firstly, the question assumes that science is something that is easily describable and categorical. Science itself is an incredibly abstract concept, though it seeks to bring order to things in our lives. Science is something that is determined by man. It is simply a label that we use to try and sort things out. If we look at the beginnings of science in the ancient world, particularly ancient Greece, we see an inquisitive nature, almost unmatched anywhere else for several years.. The ancient Greeks coined a saying “man is the measure of all things.” This tenet was the center of Greek life and permeated all aspects of their intellectual endeavors. This is where science begins, with the measure of man. This is possibly the largest inherent flaw of science. if it is based on man, and every single man on earth is different then how can science organize and unify anything? The second problem with this question is that it assumes that there are different kinds of science. not that there are different branches of science, but that science is this thing that is not singular and can be broken up into different parts, most likely related to time. this question assumes that “this science” is somehow different than the “science” of years past. Science is not an idea or concept that changes over time. Our definition of science is the same toady as it was 1000 years ago. Science is a constant thing. It is steady and it doesn’t change. However, advancements in science are ever progressing. Science is not a new computer or a break through in genetic engineering. Science is the process by which we achieve those things. Science as an idea or concept may not have changed over the years, but the philosophy that surrounds science is ever evolving. Since science itself progresses as time passes, so does the philosophy behind it. We have new technology tht allows to avoid making similar mistakes to those in the past and it allows us to dig deeper into the depths of our queries. However, even as some things changes, many others remain as they were years earlier. Some of the earlier scientist who looked at the human body came to their conclusions by literally looking at the human body. They looked at a corpse and diagrammed what they saw giving us a basic look at what we’re made of inside. To this day, some of the best ways to understand our body is to look at a medical cadaver. One of the biggest limiting factors on science and how it’s philosophy changes is ethics or morality. The morality and ethical code of a culture dictate and create the boundaries with which scientific philosophy change. Consider the ethical code in the United States. About 50 or 60 years ago cosmetic companies and scientists tested products and “discoveries” on animals. There was nothing wrong with this practice at the time because it was seen as the only viable option. Yet over time, more and more people felt that animals in this country should have rights and shouldn’t be forced to experience such awful scientific tests. The ethical code in the US changed and it was then considered immoral and in many places illegal to test certain things on animals. No matter how advanced our science is or what kinds of advancements we can make, philosophy and science will still be intertwined. Yet in that intertwining there will still be slight differences. Science has attained definite and tested knowledge of many matters and has thus resolved disagreement about those matters. Philosophy has not. As a result, controversy has always been characteristic of philosophy. Science and philosophy do share one significant goal. Both seek to discover the truth in order to answer questions, solve problems, and satisfy curiosity. In the process, both science and philosophy provoke further questions and problems, with each solution bringing more questions and problems.