Logic and the scientific method are tools that sometimes don’t work together.
Logic was the tool of the Greeks. They developed a whole system of thinking through issues and coming to a conclusion that seemed to be acceptable. For instance, when I turn up the heat on the stove, water boils quicker. This is a logical conclusion that requires no explanation. Now, using logic, lets take it one step further. If I turn up the heat the water will not only boil quicker but will continue to get hotter. This is logical. It is also wrong.
The scientific method is a tool that grew out of the Christian world view. It is based on the belief that an unchanging God designed a world for humans to live on. This world reflects His character, which is immutable. Miracles are allowed, but what could be called the laws of nature do not change and can be counted on. Thus we have scientific laws. These laws are not based on logic and reason. Logic and reason can be like the best kind of pizza. It depends on the person and the day. The scientific method assumes that certain things are true and do not change. You experiment and look at the evidence to come to a conclusion.
Lets go back to the boiling of water. In the scientific method you would state a hypothesis that water continues to get hotter as the heat is increased. Experiment would find that this is true up to the boiling point but that you reach a point where the temperature does not go up any more. Using empirical evidence you would come to the conclusion that your hypothesis was wrong. Logic is used but is not the final arbitrator. So you come up with another hypothesis and continue the search for truth.
The Greek method held back the quest for knowledge in science and medicine for centuries. The Muslims never got beyond the used of the Greek method. Neither did anyone else until Christendom matured and began to be applied over the Greek method. The Renaissance was not a liberation from Christian thinking. The Renaissance was a liberation from Greek thinking.
Unfortunately our cultures are moving back toward the Greek way of doing things.
homo unius libri
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.