Lets Build A Robust And Unambiguous Definition Of Science

When a word comes to signify everything, it has lost all of its meaning. A word becomes more and more meaningless as its is applieded to more and more objects and actions. Linguists have labeled this process "Semantic Satiation".

The word "science" is thrown around in a great many contexts and by people with a great many motives. Mostly it seems to be used by people who wish to artificially add un-earned authority and respect, to hijack the authority and respect science has earned, and apply that stolen authority and respect to situations and intents that have not in any way applied the rigor and objectivity that science demands.

Let's get tougher with the goal of defining the word "Science" such that it means only one thing and so that this one thing it means is of maximum importance and impact, and so that it can not easily be confused with other meanings. If we do this correctly, if we can show what science is, we can also show what science is not. If we can dig down to the salience of science, to its quintessence, we should be able to show that science is not engineering, is not the acquisition of skill, is not precision, is not spiritual, is not mysterious, is not revolutionary, is not technology, is not rockets, is not computers, is not microscopes or telescopes or atomic gas analyzers, is not quantum dynamics… but is a ver particular means of maximizing the effectiveness of the acquisition of knowledge about reality.

Meeting is in the Brad McDonald Conference Room, Capitola Library, on Tuesday, October 21, from 4:00PM - 6:00PM. See you there!

Randall Reetz