| Faith is a dominant concept in religion. Consequently, it is often perceived to be an exclusive religious disposition.
But faith which simply means believing without proving, is not exclusively a religious disposition. There is a faith component even in the most rational human endeavor,
the scientific method.
Three key features characterize the scientific method: (1) Observation and description of a phenomenon or phenomena (2) Formulation of a hypothesis to explain the phenomena (3) Performance of objective experiments (laboratory or mathematical procedures) so as to accept or reject the hypothesis. Although all three aspects of the scientific method are important, the performance of objective experiments is the decisive factor in establishing scientific truths. Fundamentally, an objective experiment consists of three components: the objective, the experimenter(s), and the procedures. An objective, usually in the form of an hypothesis is stated. An experimenter interested in the hypothesis and with the relevant knowledge base then seeks to estalish its acceptability or unacceptability by carrying out repeatable procedures. At the end of the experiment, the hypothesis is either accepted or rejected. Depending on the importance of |
| the hypothesis and the nature of the procedures, the experiment is independently carried out by various able experimenters, if the
initial investigation proposes its acceptability. If repeatedly, independent objective experiments accept the hypothesis, it is established as a scientific truth until an
inconsistency is detected or until it is replaced by a better hypothesis. Does an objective experiment fully guarantee the correctness of an accepted hypothesis? No. In each stage of an experiment, there is the chance of significant error: there may be yet undetected implicit flaw in the accepted hypothesis; there may be error due to experimenters and instruments of measurement; there may be procedural errors. Despite sophisticated error-smoothing techniques, the correctness of an hypothesis accepted through an objective experiment is not absolutely gauranteed. Nonetheless, the public generally accepts scientific truths presented by the scientific community, particularly when its applicability is substantive and recognizable in everyday experience. In instances when a scientific truth exceeds everyday knowledge, the public's acceptance is generally based on at least a grain of faith in the scientific community. Can an objective experiment be repeated always? No, not without the availability, willingness and knowledge of experimenters. To repeat an experiment about a stated |
| hypothesis, the experimenters must possess the required knowledge base,
be available and willing to conduct the experiment, otherwise the experiment cannot be repeated. Imagine a scenario where no experimenter is simultaneously available, willing and knowledgeable
with respect to the repeating of an experiment about an important hypothesis which only one experimenter has confirmed. Such a hypothesis will probably not become a scientific truth until more
experimenters with the required knowledge base are available and willing to repeat the experiment and confirm the conclusion of the initial sole experimenter. Objective experiments can not always be repeated and the correctness of the hypotheses they establish is not absolutely guaranteed. Also the highly complex processes and knowledge required to prove some scientific truths are beyond the reach of the general population. In such instances, the general population believe without individually proving or even understanding what the scientific community has proved and understands. For example, the general population has not individually proved the existence of positrons: the antiparticles of electrons. So the less the general population understand the hypotheses and the objective experiments that accept them and the applications from them, the more the general population depend on faith in the scientific community and the scientific method. Peter O. Sagay |
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| Let us use our environment respectfully so that future generations would not label us"prodigal ancestors" |
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