Chapter 1.4, Problem 3CC

To determine

A brief comment on the phrase “scientific certainty”. Whether the phrase is an oxymoron or not or the scientific theories are to be considered as the absolute truth.

Answer to Problem 3CC

The phrase “scientific certainty” is an oxymoron since a new data is added to the knowledge base of science constantly with the passage of time.

Explanation of Solution

The natural world has a huge collection of knowledge which is still unknown to humans. There are many mysterious processes and events in the world whose reasons cannot be explained yet. As time goes, technology is progressing at an alarming rate and thus, the new information added to the scientific field updates every day.

The information about the world constantly changes with the addition of new observations and data to the knowledge base. In the presence of the newly available data, it becomes inevitable and mandatory to recheck the scientific hypotheses, theories, and facts. In case of any inconsistency, they have to be updated and reframed. If some facts are proven wrong in the future, they have to be discarded.

As far as the addition of new information continues, the presently believed and proven scientific truths may be subjected to the changes in the future. Therefore, the phrase “scientific certainty” is an oxymoron.

As time passes, the scientific statements would be a series of increasingly correct and precise statements commonly thus, ultimately reaching a point where it will be questioned never. It would be true if it is said that the science attains a stage which is probably certain, on account of the accessible data.