Is "Scientific Fact" a contradiction in terms?

Question

Is "Scientific Fact" a contradiction in terms, when what science gives us are partially-tested hypotheses which are constantly being revised and altered?

I put this in "Religion and Spirituality" because I want to examine the question in the widest sense, of science as one expression of the search of human beings for truth.

This is not intended to be a "Science v Chrisitianity"-type question, so anyone wishing merely to express their unquestioning faith in any religion, or their equally unquestioning faith in science, is perhaps in the wrong place.

I am asking whether science can be an instrument for approaching or arriving at truth (i.e. truth as opposed to best-guess, knowledge as opposed to hypothesis) or whether it is merely a method for collecting observations and ordering them into a system.

As you are perhaps aware, this is a question on which there is current debate in the scientific community, and on which many scientists hold opposing opinions.

Answer 1

same difference

Answer 2

I find this interesting... I do not try and see if there is any kind of hoax going on, though I know that I have a different belief system than most do. I feel that it takes all kinds, and what is not right for one person will always just feel wrong. The ones I have the most fun looking at though are the ones that just have to spend all their energy trying to prove to others that they are all wrong. We are hard wired to believe in something, and I believe I'll go have a nice bike ride and ask the stars for their wisdom... and why not, for it is a beautiful night here in the high desert and I can see the mountains 80 miles away as if they were right next to me. There was a good sunset, and it is still warm out on this second day of spring. I even helped several Brothers celebrate one of their Holy days today, "Good Friday". We do the spring and fall Equinox together, and the Easter Sunday thing as well. All in all, who is to say what is a hoax, and what is real... they know I will not go to their heaven, and I don't want to go there anyway without my dogs and other animal friends. Now the fun part is the midweek crew we play Dungions and Dragons with, and the 2 Priests, the Rabbi, and the other 3 Religions in attendence (Pegan, Wicca, & Me, a Spiritualist). ME! The Vernal Equinox was Thursday, March 20, 2008 in the northern hemisphere this year. It is Friday, March 20, 2009 next year. The Vernal Equinox is the date when night and day are nearly the same length, and the Sun crosses the equator moving northward. It is considered to be the first day of spring. .

Answer 3

An example of a scientific fact would be the knowledge we have on the structure of cells. Science has provided a path towards breaking down the anatomy of microscopic material. The fact that a certain type of cell has a membrane is irrefutable. This would be an area that is not being revised or altered so it is labeled as a scientific fact. It is possible for someone to misuse the phrase "scientific fact", but that does not mean it is a contradiction in terms.

As for science helping to arrive at truth, that is completely possible as well. Understanding what epilepsy or Tourettes are has altered our perception of what people with these disorders are experiencing. They used to be classified as demonic possession or something equally superstitious. Knowing what they are and how they function within the brain has helped relieve the suffering of many people. Continued research based on the scientific facts collected so far may result in complete cures for such disorders.

To set the bar so high that there could never be facts would mean placing doubt on the simplest of situations. If there is a car speeding towards me I am willing to accept the fact that it won't be good for me if I don't get out of the way.

The only debate that could be occuring relating to the phrase "scientific fact " would be in its application. That is not a debate on the validity of the phrase itself. An absolute skeptic could never have facts, but an "absolute skeptic" would be a contradiction in terms, wouldn't it?

Answer 4

I don't think so, it is a scientific fact that everytime I throw an object into the air on this world, it always falls back down to earth. The laws of physics are the same everywhere in the universe, this same thing would happen on any other world.

Something like "religious fact" is a contradiction however. Someone saying that if it's in the bible, than it's true. The bible is a book that has remained the same for 1500 years and has not been updated. A science book has been rewritten and corrected. Science self-corrects itself.

There is so much more that we don't know about the universe but is there is things we do know, we know the truths and facts from science. Like how all planets and stars are always round. Gravity is everywhere the same.

Answer 5

Scientific facts generally are those things which have been proven to be consistent in the physical universe by means of consistent, repeatable testing. Gravity pulls down. Fire is hot. Unlike the ideas of philosophy, which only affect how humans frame their view of the world, scientific facts are used to physically alter our world. Scientific facts give us cures for disease, vaccines and technologies that improve our lives --no other school of thought does this. Scientific fact is the backbone of anything that could be classified as engineering. Since you are able to use the Internet, you are most likely completely immersed in the results of that engineering, from the power distribution to your computer to the materials that would make the computer or the roof over your head. Scientific fact is objective and knowable no matter the culture based on the criterion of repeatable and consistent results of tests. It is known by every engineer that it took to get your computer and the massive infrastructure that is the internet to your hands. The more science has progressed throughout human history, by exercise of its criterion for fact, the more we have come to accurately know ourselves, our universe and our place in it. Before it, we created fanciful stories of Gods, fairies and demons which did little to improve our lives. Scientific facts are very real and palpable things, you would not be able to read this post any other way.

Answer 6

Science calls most everything a theory for that reason. Gravity is still a theory. What should be considered a fact is something that has been tested to the point where there is no serious debate about it any more. Gravity and Evolution fall into that category without a doubt.

Answer 7

Science can only tell you things, whether they become truth or not is based upon the biased opinion of the person observing it. Science doesn't exist anymore. The thing we call science is only mere attempts to bring gain to humans in one way or another, no matter if it destroys the environment, space, animals, or other humans, as long as it brings financial or some other type of gain, scientists will research it, but science is no more than people who know how to manipulate other people and confuse them with “big words” to sway them in their biased opinion and those who don’t believe them are called idiots, no matter what.

Answer 8

No. A hypothesis is an explanation of the facts, and when a test or evidence supports it, it's called a theory. So a scientific fact is a basic piece of information you use to formulate a hypothesis.

Answer 9

Scientific findings are not contradictions.Religion very often is un- scientific.As you know faith is blind.Most often religion is founded on blind belief. For example..creation.. but we know that life has evolved through millions of years. Religion taught that earth is flat and sun goes round the earth etc.All these have been proved wrong.
Relogion need to change or else it will become reduntant.

Answer 10

All science is from God...thus all science is good... it is man missapplying God's science that is the problem..... There are many "scientific facts" as well as even more "theories". As more is learned more facts will be revealed...I am of The
True Christian Faith and I have no problem with science... I do have a great distrust of certain so-called scientists.

Answer 11

"anyone wishing merely to express their unquestioning faith in any religion, or their equally unquestioning faith in science, is perhaps in the wrong place"
no, your question is....

Some science HAS been proven, although as technology progresses we realize how little we know. This is by design.
Jut ask the Designer.