Hypotheses (Continued)

Why is it important to understand the logic of hypotheses?

First the good news. The logical system discussed here (the scientific method) is the basis of scientific investigation. The results speak for themselves. Improvements that make life easier, healthier, and safer such as medical advances, farming improvements, manufacturing innovations, transportation advances. The list is almost endless. Of course the scientific method brought us the atom bomb too, but let's not dwell on that.

Now the bad news. The primary limitation of the scientific method is that the answers are never certain. (Remember, a hypothesis can never be proven.) Really, this is a good thing, because it allows for continued research that can give better answers. Unfortunately, many people want to claim that scientific theories are proven, when they are not. How many times have you heard people say, "Evolution is a proven fact"? Evolution is a theory. Logic eliminates the possibility of it ever being proven. Of course the same is true of any competing theory as well. The critical thinker needs to resist being dogmatic about a theory because they prefer it or because a textbook or teacher told them it was true. Science is rarely a field of certainty. It is essential that you keep an open mind to competing theories.

If you rigidly adhere to popular theories, it may turn out that you are like the people who refused to consider that the earth wasn't the center of the universe. They got mad at Galileo, threatened him, and called him nasty things. Now those people look pretty stupid. And it was all because they were closed minded. Don't be like that.

Continue for more on hypotheses.