The ‘end of science’ my ass

The reports of the death of science have been greatly exaggerated.

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Complete entry

Posted by Rick Schettino  on  07/08  at  02:40 AM

I heard an anecdote once that someone wanted to close the patent office a long time ago because there wasn't anything left to invent.

Recently a computer program derived some laws of physics from observing a swinging pendulum. That's surely a sign of the amazing developments that are coming to science.

Posted by Frank  on  07/08  at  11:28 AM

It seems to me that whoever titled that essay, "Are We Witnessing the End of Science?" didn't really mean it, but just wanted a title that would attract people's attention. I don't think he or she imagined that anyone would really try to take that literally and try to counter that science is not coming to an end.

Posted by TransAlchemy  on  07/09  at  04:01 AM

What I now believe is at foot here is that this scientific paradigm of general relativity and quantum mechanics being two separate entities is at an end!

This maybe viewed as the end of science, only because we cant see beyond the paradigm shift.

So both positions that science is and isn't ending would linguistically be correct. For the current scientific paradigm is ending, but the overall quest to seek "Truth" is not!

Posted by javamano  on  07/12  at  08:53 PM

Hi George. First let me say, long time reader first time commenting. As always excellent and stimulating commentary and speculation. I to be believe there is still much for science to discover. I must : respectfully : disagree with you regarding these questions: "How come we haven't eradicated all diseases? Why do we still have cars that run on fossil fuels? How about addressing climate change? And what about a clean and sustainable energy source?" Regrettably, I think the reason we have not solved these problems is social, not scientific. Many of the technological solutions to these problems already exist; we merely lack the social will to implement them.

Posted by Rick Schettino  on  07/12  at  10:23 PM

RE: Above comment. I don't know if it's so much that we lack the social will to solve energy and health problems. The problem is that you're talking about two of the biggest and most powerful industries on earth - pharmaceuticals, and OIL - which would perish from the face of the earth! But now that the internet is reaching people worldwide and connecting our social will, those things are bound to change.

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