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Ok, but consider the following: do you feel that current scientific knowledge includes things that we know not to make sense, but we just accept them because we

Ok, but consider the following: do you feel that current scientific knowledge includes things that we know not to make sense, but we just accept them because we have no better alternatives? If the answer is no, this should give you pause. A thought experiment. Consider the alternatives: (a) that we finally removed all irrationality from our understanding of reality, and you happen to be living in this golden age, while the centuries and millennia extending before you were dominated by irrationality; (b) that it is very hard to spot irrational beliefs when you are immersed in the culture that produces them. Which one do you figure is more probable?

Sean1708 7y ago
(c) we have a much better understanding of the world than we have ever had before (though we still have a long way to go, and may never reach a full understanding) IMO it's mostly (c) but with a hearty helping of (b) on the side.
MauranKilom 7y ago
Define "not make sense". Does the first law of thermodynamics "make sense"? Should it ever be proven wrong, would you have considered us irrational for "believing" in it? Sorting beliefs into "rational" and "irrational" is a bit too black and white imo. We have (scientific) models. We can support (but not prove), question or disprove them by applying the scientific method. There are beliefs/theories/models of varying popularity in our current scientific knowledge that are wrong but that we haven't disproven yet. You might differentiate between "we're looking for ways to disprove them" (i.e. being scientific) versus "we apply confirmation bias" (i.e. being superstitious) to distinguish rational and irrational beliefs. But my point is that there is a third option that is missing in your list: (c) we are suspicious of them (because they don't make sense?) but haven't yet come up with a way to put them to the test.

Sean1708 7y ago

(c) we have a much better understanding of the world than we have ever had before (though we still have a long way to go, and may never reach a full understanding) IMO it's mostly (c) but with a hearty helping of (b) on the side.

MauranKilom 7y ago

Define "not make sense". Does the first law of thermodynamics "make sense"? Should it ever be proven wrong, would you have considered us irrational for "believing" in it? Sorting beliefs into "rational" and "irrational" is a bit too black and white imo. We have (scientific) models. We can support (but not prove), question or disprove them by applying the scientific method. There are beliefs/theories/models of varying popularity in our current scientific knowledge that are wrong but that we haven't disproven yet. You might differentiate between "we're looking for ways to disprove them" (i.e. being scientific) versus "we apply confirmation bias" (i.e. being superstitious) to distinguish rational and irrational beliefs. But my point is that there is a third option that is missing in your list: (c) we are suspicious of them (because they don't make sense?) but haven't yet come up with a way to put them to the test.