Nobody likes to admit that they don’t know something, whether it is a scientific fact or a simple definition. In order to feel secure about the world we all live in, some people try to explain every little thing as if it gives them some sort ultimate of control over their lives. The statement ‘knowledge is power’ is taken far too literally, because knowledge only makes us aware of things we have no power over.There is this misconception that knowing something will give us an upper hand on it. Whoa gee, dogs only see in black and white- and there is nothing I can do about it. For the most part, we can’t control the processes of nature or even begin to comprehend why it all works the way it does. Science is a big believer in the power of knowledge, and tries at every turn to explain what is unknown. Everything has to be quantifiable in some way, or have some sort of pattern that allows it to fit in the ‘real’ world. But how useful is the knowledge really? Just knowing how something happens only beckons more questions- infuriating Science even more. The average person does not benefit from learning about the octet rule. I can’t force my atoms to want a full outer shell, or have any real control in the process at all. Even things such as emotions, which are instinctually understood, have to be explained through chemical processes. The major flaw is that Science in all ways must be rational, while human beings are not. Pure science does not exist because there are always human motives behind it, motives that cannot necessarily be explained by Science alone. Science gives facts, but humans provide the understanding- therefore tainting it merely by interpretation. Even Lyotard said, “Scientific knowledge is not the only kind of knowledge.”
Yes, knowledge is very cool, but it is only a mechanism in the bigger process of understanding. Science, superstition, intuition, all play a role in sculpting human understanding. Only through understanding can we use any of these mechanisms to better comprehend anything. Because Understanding is not purely scientific or intuitive, it must make use of all the mini-narratives in order to manifest and not rely solely on one meta-narrative.
So, memorize all the facts that you can, but there is no power gained through the act alone. You may know how many ridges there are on a dime (118) or be able to calculate the circumference of the Earth (40, 074.02 km), but the myth that knowledge begets power is still just a myth.p.s. here’s a cool website of random facts, because I still think they’re coolhttp://www.cs.cmu.edu/~bingbin/
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Oy Deanna, you hit the science question deep in the heart. You are right-human motive cloud pure science, but don't you think that maybe once in a while, the idea of finding something new drives itself, and the human emotions are left at the side lines? For example, the average indentations in the human tooth has no real use in the science world, but isn't the thought of finding out the answer enough? I do think there is pure science, and not enough of fact finding is done. Most science today is reliant on meta-narrative, but that can't cancel out the science carried out for the joy of discovering new things.
ReplyDeleteBut isn't joy a human motivation as well? There is no science done purely for Science's sake. Again, it is only a mechanism for fullfilling a deeper want.
ReplyDelete*heard about debate, puts in two cents*
ReplyDeleteI agree that the want of discovery is a human thing. The joy or interest humans have.
So SCIENCE, is the human discovery and search for knowledge (that we would not search for without human motivation). WHAT WE DISCOVER, the facts the ridges of a tooth, are constant, whether or not we're looking for it. So, without a narrative, we are unaware of the knowledge.