The Mind Matters Most

In the world of being alive, the mind matters most. All our decisions occur because we decide. Sounds simple and redundant because it IS simple and redundant.

In all our academic endeavors, that foundational concept governs our performance. We decide to study or procrastinate. We decide to pursue thoughts beyond the obvious. There is no one to blame, or give credit to, other than ourselves.

Can science find truth?

 

 Science can certainly discover information and validate hypotheses, but can it produce what Francis Schaeffer labeled "True Truth?" There are some common perceptions of the relationship between science and religion, with "truth" being defined differently by each realm.

• science is the description of what really exists, and only that.
• science disproves the need for God and/or religion
• science and religion represent different areas of living (i.e. reality and philosophy)
• science proves the existence of God

 

 Truth exists... then we start.

 

Science looks at the broad relationships between matter, energy and time. Those broad relationships lead naturally to more in-depth analyses, thus eventually producing specific theories and finally creating the exciting technology that makes our life enjoyable and generally easier.

Even a new theory or concept can only be labeled as "knowledge," but not necessarily truth. This isn't a valid ending point, since the likelihood of some NEW knowledge will be found that negates the present theory.

The only logical conclusion is that TRUTH is where we START, rather than what we discover. Furthermore, truth can exist only if there is an absolute on which it is based. The notion that "whatever you believe is true" is logically untrue. If two ideas are conflicting, there are only two possible options... either one is true, or they are both wrong. Both cannot be correct.

 

There is always one more question.

 

The search for and finding new knowledge ultimately leads to one more question. And discovering the answer to those unanswered questions leads us to newer knowledge.

By its very nature, how we perceive new knowledge (or what we tend to call truth) is always based on certain fundamental assumptions and the existence of an initial absolute. For instance, the two huge, conflicting hypotheses are based on the following.

• evolution - uniformitarianism and spontaneous generation
• creation - catastrophism and "God said..."

The question then becomes, which initial absolute makes the most logical sense?

• which provides a scientific model (or not.)
• which gives meaning to life
• which provides guidelines for living
• which promises continuance (i.e. life after life)

 As we pursue the study of science, do your best to keep in mind that ALL study and learning is based on the worldview of either the teacher or the learner. You might not be able to verbalize the relationship, but it is there.

 

Where are we going?

 

This site will be the "jumping off point" as we study the following main topics in physical science.

• classical mechanics (Newton and friends)
• thermodynamics (hot stuff)
• electromagnetic spectrum (wifi works)
• optics and light (light always wins)
• nuclear energy (from the very small)
• quantum theory (beyond Bohr)