Why use the Scientific Method?

[AV1611VET]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

 

[Seipai]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

Is that even a sentence?

And the probable answer if you can fix your question:

Because it works better than anything else.

 

[lesliedellow]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

Because to date it is the best paradigm we have for obtaining information about the physical universe.

 

[AV1611VET]

Is that even a sentence?

It is a cut-and-paste of what I was asked to ask.

 

[Ellwood3]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

OKay. Bob is going to the store. Bob wants some broccoli. He checks the prices. He decides which best suits him. He goes home, cooks it. WORMS!


He goes back to the store, gets his money back on that, knowing broccoli is good for him--gets some more broccoli.

NOW--what does that have to do with the scientific method?

Consider the similarities.



Bob made an OBSERVATION --no broccoli. He HYPOTHESIED that going to the store to buy some might be a way of getting some--that they would have it in stock. He TESTED THE HYPOTHESIS by--going to the store, and looking where it should be. He made some choices and purchased some. Taking it home, he got RESULTS--worms!.
Then he reexamined the situation and drew some CONCLUSIONS--take back the wormy food, and get some that's better.



Point being, we use the scientific method in daily life for a variety of things. It's commonplace. Reasonable. Highly effective--for some things.



However, faith can't come from the scientific method. Not because faith is "under" it --because it transcends it.



I recommend the book Faith Beyond Reason for anyone interested in how reasonable faith is. It's by A.W. Tozer.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra4HWj1jrJA

 

[Michael]

Because to date it is the best paradigm we have for obtaining information about the physical universe.

In areas where the scientific method limits itself to actually demonstrating empirical cause/effect relationships in controlled experimentation, I agree.

When those 'scientists' start tossing in supernatural/metaphysical constructs, and they also remove the need for verified cause/effect demonstrations in the lab, it quickly devolves into 'bad religion'.

 

[selfinflikted]

Because it works better than anything else.

This.

 

[Michael]

This. Originally Posted by Seipai

Because it works better than anything else.
​

That was a pretty good answer.

 

[lesliedellow]

In areas where the scientific method limits itself to actually demonstrating empirical cause/effect relationships in controlled experimentation, I agree.

When those 'scientists' start tossing in supernatural/metaphysical constructs, and they also remove the need for verified cause/effect demonstrations in the lab, it quickly devolves into 'bad religion'.

Boring, boring, boring.

 

[HitchSlap]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

Hi. I'm a head-hunter for the Department of Redundancy Department, and we'd like to hire you.

 

[Loudmouth]

In areas where the scientific method limits itself to actually demonstrating empirical cause/effect relationships in controlled experimentation, I agree.

When those 'scientists' start tossing in supernatural/metaphysical constructs, and they also remove the need for verified cause/effect demonstrations in the lab, it quickly devolves into 'bad religion'.

See a therapist.

 

[AV1611VET]

Hi. I'm a head-hunter for the Department of Redundancy Department, and we'd like to hire you.

I just started this thread at the suggestion of another poster.

In fact, I cut-and-paste a section of his request.

So don't blame me for this mess.

I think it's funny.

 

[HitchSlap]

I just started this thread at the suggestion of another poster.

In fact, I cut-and-paste a section of his request.

So don't blame me for this mess.

I think it's funny.

That would be your first mistake, then.

 

[AV1611VET]

That would be your first mistake, then.

What? thinking it's funny?

I'm enjoying this thread.

I wish more people would respond though.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

Observation of phenomena, hypothesis, test observation, analyze, draw conclusion.

We do this literally every day without thinking about it. Its completely unconscious and utterly pervasive.

For example, pretend you were typing on your keyboard and you hit the key labelled "A". But you looked on the computer screen and saw a "Q" show up on the screen. What would you do? Would you just decide that all A's had become Q's and that's that?

I'm assuming most people would make an almost unconscious hypothesis in their head, "My finger must have slipped and hit the Q instead".

To test, you would very deliberately hit the "A" key again. This would be the setting of the controlled experiment where you are sure, to a high degree of certainty, that you are hitting the key labelled "A". Lets say you hit the "A" again and see that an "A" now appears on the computer screen. Your analysis may be that your finger did slip and thus you confirm your hypothesis.

This would all occur in a matter of seconds.

There are literally thousands of cases of using the scientific method every day. To the point where I can't actually imagine people living their lives without it.

 

[AV1611VET]

There are literally thousands of cases of using the scientific method every day. To the point where I can't actually imagine people living their lives without it.

Yes, I know.

I'm fond of pointing out they used science in John 9 to ostracize a man that had been healed of blindness by Jesus.

And I don't think one has to be a Rhodes scholar to see the role science played in putting Jesus on the Cross.

 

[MerlinJ]

And I don't think one has to be a Rhodes scholar to see the role science played in putting Jesus on the Cross.

Quite the opposite, I think.

 

[HitchSlap]

Yes, I know.

I'm fond of pointing out they used science in John 9 to ostracize a man that had been healed of blindness by Jesus.

And I don't think one has to be a Rhodes scholar to see the role science played in putting Jesus on the Cross.

Wait, wut? Does your picture bible show guys in white coats with clipboards and pocket protectors hanging Jesus up?

 

[AV1611VET]

Does your picture bible show guys in white coats with clipboards and pocket protectors hanging Jesus up?

You mean robes and scrolls and phylacteries?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Why would people use the scientific method and follow evidence the evidence to a supported conclusion?

Sigh.....If only there were something we could actually call THE scientific method, then we could all call it a day.