Science: Process, not Truth.

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1/ “If you thought before that science is certain, well, that’s just an error on your part.” – @ProfFeynman. A thread 🧵 and blogpost ✍️ below, to remind us that science is a process, not a truth (alinush.github.io/2023/06/02/Science-process-not-truth.html).

2/ In an old video, @neiltyson and @billmaher talk about folks who don't "believe" in global warming or evolution (youtube.com/watch?v=yRxx8pen6JY). @neiltyson, in his typical quick-witted way, says: "The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it"

3/a Yet we know this to be wrong. Science is not "true". Science is a _process_. i.e., it can't be "true" or "false." It's not a (set of) statement(s)! It's a way of getting a little bit closer to (some) truth(s). How? We theorize & we see if our theories hold water.

3/b Or, we experiment and see if we can infer laws. @ProfFeynman beautifully explains the leap of faith that is inherent in scientific work (youtube.com/watch?v=tRxFf3p8Ia8): "What we do is always to stick our neck out!" "And that of course means that the science is uncertain!"

3/c i.e., Feynman plainly lays out the nature of scientific work: "In order to have any utility at all to the science… In order not simply to describe an experiment that’s just been done, we have to propose laws beyond their range." "And there’s nothing wrong with that."

3/d "That’s the success; that’s the point!" "And, uhh, that makes the science uncertain." "If you thought before that science is certain, well, that’s just an error on your part."

4/ I'm pretty sure @neiltyson was simply trying to entertain when saying "science is [...] true whether or not you believe in it." Unfortunately, lots of folks will be fooled by this & will walk around with a false sense of knowledge (or worse, moral superiority).

5/a More disturbingly, the misleading "science is true" narrative will be hijacked by demagogues and/or politicians to advance their own agendas. The "science is true" moniker will be used to silence dissenting voices. And "science" will be used as an authoritative modifier...

5/b The "scientific" facts! (No stronger than just "facts.") The "scientific" evidence! (No stronger than just "evidence.") The “scientific” truth! (No stronger than just "truth.")

6/ Let's remember what science is: a process, a tool, a community. Fallible-but-redemptive. (Typically) falsifiable. Not a religion. If rhymes help you, Here's a few: Science is not "true". Science is what you *do*, When you search for what is true.