Hypotheses (Continued)

Hypotheses and World Views

Many of our most cherished beliefs, both scientific and nonscientific, are really hypotheses. Some of them are already turning out to be as mythological as the idea that the earth is flat or that use leaches to get rid of diseases. People in fields of science sometimes forget the tentative nature or their profession. The press, politicians, teachers, and students are more likely to forget this. They get the idea that the scientific community has "proved" things which are actually quite debatable. Such things as global warming, the increasing ozone hole, acid rain, and even evolution are theories. All of these theories have serious opponents. Each of these theories has serious problems. None of them has or ever will be proven. And yet, many people consider them unquestioned fact. At best they are tentative - perhaps the best current explanation, but only probable, not certain. Remember, hypotheses are inductive, so the claims must be made with low modalities.

World views are like hypotheses.

World views are tentative formulations we make of how the world most likely is. We work from our observations of the world, (how those we know interact, how animals behave, what happens when we fall off our bike, what our teachers tell us, what the media tell us, and everything else that we observe), then we develop a hypothesis which most adequately explains those observations. That hypothesis is our world view. Because each individual is limited in their understanding, no one's world view is completely accurate. It is important to realize this in order to be open minded and willing to change your mind when better information comes along. When one is rigid in their world view, they are dogmatic and unteachable. Critical thinkers avoid this. It is good to be aware of the tentative and uncertain nature of hypotheses, both scientific and personal. (See also paradigm)