Talk to many a scientist these days and they will tell you that “skepticism” is how science is done. I’ve heard this from a number of scientists of whom I admire. There is a big problem with that belief. One guiding principle to which I do adhere tells us that science should not be biased. … More Skepticism: How Science is Not Done
Science relies heavily on replication—the ability to repeat phenomena given the same inputs and conditions. If a phenomenon cannot be replicated, then one unavoidable possibility is that the initial conditions have not yet been replicated. The only other possibility is that the known conditions were not causally linked, so it’s likely the phenomenon will never … More How Science Fails to Recognize Initial Conditions
Is certainty a crutch? Sometimes it can be. It depends on how that certainty is formed. When Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947, many of his fellow pilots were decidedly uncertain it could be done. Some suggested that he should be fully insured. A few of his peers had already died trying. There … More Certainty — The Crutch of ‘Knowing it Can Be Done’
