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What’s interesting is that all of science rests ultimately on intuition. The laws of logic and reasoning rest on axioms which basically rely on the intuition t

What’s interesting is that all of science rests ultimately on intuition. The laws of logic and reasoning rest on axioms which basically rely on the intuition that they are true.

markusde 3y ago
This is slightly misleading. "All of science" doesn't rely on intuition-- it relies on the scientific method. Intuition guides how we develop our models but ultimately there _is_ a real forcing function in the sense that the models need to hold up to experiment. An example of why this matters: string theory. AFAICT It's a field that is built with a clear(ish) intuition and rigorous use of logic, but because it is experimentally unverifiable the field has never really moved past conjecture.
- burnished 3y ago
  Nitpick: If it isnt experimental it isnt science.
- cscurmudgeon 3y ago
  > it relies on the scientific method Which come from logic/reasoning which relies on intuition.
  - Isamu 3y ago
    What? How so? Explanations of reasoning and math often appeal to intuition as a shortcut and to connect with the student, but that is not the foundation.
burnished 3y ago
You're thinking of math. That the math we've developed leads to intuitive useful results, or that it is useful for making predictions about the world is no coincidence. If science rests on anything it rests on the belief that the world operates through repeatable principles, that you can repeat an experiment and expect the same result.
- cscurmudgeon 3y ago
  > "science rests on anything it rests on the belief that the world operates through repeatable principles" Where does the principle come from?
  - burnished 3y ago
    I suspect the principle arises from elimination; the other prospects are too daunting to consider. "The universe is chaotic and false and your memories are lies because you were just created whole as you are", for example, sort of ends the conversation. Doesn't leave you much room to try and eat something tasty. And evidently even a little belief in a coherent universe is self reinforcing. So I suppose the principle comes from the pragmatism involved with being embodied agents with needs in a hostile environment.

What’s interesting is that all of science rests ultimately on intuition. The laws of logic and reasoning rest on axioms which basically rely on the intuition that they are true.

markusde 3y ago

This is slightly misleading. "All of science" doesn't rely on intuition-- it relies on the scientific method. Intuition guides how we develop our models but ultimately there _is_ a real forcing function in the sense that the models need to hold up to experiment. An example of why this matters: string theory. AFAICT It's a field that is built with a clear(ish) intuition and rigorous use of logic, but because it is experimentally unverifiable the field has never really moved past conjecture.

burnished 3y ago
Nitpick: If it isnt experimental it isnt science.
cscurmudgeon 3y ago
> it relies on the scientific method Which come from logic/reasoning which relies on intuition.
- Isamu 3y ago
  What? How so? Explanations of reasoning and math often appeal to intuition as a shortcut and to connect with the student, but that is not the foundation.

burnished 3y ago

You're thinking of math. That the math we've developed leads to intuitive useful results, or that it is useful for making predictions about the world is no coincidence. If science rests on anything it rests on the belief that the world operates through repeatable principles, that you can repeat an experiment and expect the same result.

cscurmudgeon 3y ago
> "science rests on anything it rests on the belief that the world operates through repeatable principles" Where does the principle come from?
- burnished 3y ago
  I suspect the principle arises from elimination; the other prospects are too daunting to consider. "The universe is chaotic and false and your memories are lies because you were just created whole as you are", for example, sort of ends the conversation. Doesn't leave you much room to try and eat something tasty. And evidently even a little belief in a coherent universe is self reinforcing. So I suppose the principle comes from the pragmatism involved with being embodied agents with needs in a hostile environment.