Σάββατο 7 Ιανουαρίου 2012

The Scientist's Creed with explanatory comments

V1.07

    The Creed
Comments
Reality and its attributes.
    1. I believe in one reality
Reality is unique.
    1. that is accessible,

    1. objective,
The same to all observers.
    1. and dynamic,
Changing.
    1. and in no other authority.
Anti-dogmatism: Reality is the ultimate authority.
Symmetries: Scientific Laws.
    1. And in the existence of timeless symmetries
Symmetries Exist, i.e. reality is organised, i.e. some conceivable worlds are excluded from being possible.
    1. which delineate reality's dynamics
Symmetries limit reality's possible changes i.e. phenomena.
    1. thus providing the only basis
This limitation / organosis of reality is the only available means...
    1. for exerting some control
...to influencing reality as desired, i.e. successfully anticipating the outcome...
    1. through conscious actions,
...by acting on it (the scientist and her actions are part of reality).
    1. including predictions.
Predictions of future changes are themselves a kind of control over reality.
The scientist's objective.
    1. I believe that acquiring the means
Science is primariry about acquiring the means of control (knowledge of the symmetries), as opposed to application of those means (technology) which is not a primary project for the scientist.
    1. for controling reality
    1. is a worthy goal
    1. whose promotion I choose
    1. as my personal objective.
Rationality (or Logic)
    1. I believe that rationality
Rationality is loosely used to mean, 'the rules used by all scientists to think, argue with and convince one another, on scientific issues'.
    1. is the reflection
Rationality, even if not fully, explicitly & clearly known...
    1. of one of the most generic
      symmetries of all.
..., exists and is objective. It is also very generic as it applies to virtually all of reality's dynamics.
Scientific tools: Technology.
    1. I believe that the control potential
Tools are intelligent constructions that enhance the potential for control over reality...
    1. of intelligent beings
    1. can be enhanced by tools,
    1. which are constructions of their own
    1. that exploit the symmetries
...by exploiting the symmetries.
    1. to achieve specific goals.
E.g. a fur is a tool which keeps a person warm by exploiting the thermodynamic physical laws.
Evidence.
    1. I believe in evidence
Evidence exists.
    1. which are the records
Evidence are records...
    1. of reality's dynamics,
...of how reality changes, i.e. of phenomena.
    1. accessible only by the senses
Evidence is empirical in nature.

Technology used for scientific (as opposed to life practical) purposes.
    1. as enhanced and rendered more objective
    1. by tools of observation, measurement
    1. and recording.
    1. I believe that evidence expose the summetries
Evidence expose the symmetries by making apparent the patterns produced by them.
    1. through their repetitive patterns
    1. which patterns are themselves accessible
The human mind and intelligence in general, are capable of making sense of the patterns exposed by evidence, therefore approximate the symmetries that produce the patterns.
    1. at least in part
    1. by intelligence
    1. including the human mind.
Imagination & Intuition.
    1. And in imagination and intuition
Imagination & Intuition produce hypotheses regarding scientific laws, that change how existing evidence is viewed and highlight the need for additional evidence to test them.
    1. that contribute falsifiable hypotheses
    1. regarding the symmetries
    1. thus shedding new light
    1. in existing evidence
    1. and guiding the search for new.
Research / Experiments.
    1. And in the great utility
Research & Experiments are very useful evidence gathering projects, with the goal to test specific hypotheses, by analysing the relevant patterns.
    1. of acquiring additional targeted evidence
    1. to elucidate relevant patterns
    1. and test the corressponding hypotheses,
    1. or even producing it myself by
In experiments, control is exercised for the scientific process itself! The symmetries are 'forced' to show their hand by causing the relevant phenomena, under close control.
    1. inducing closely controlled dynamics
    1. relevant to the symmetries under examination.
Inescapable Uncertainty.
    1. I believe in the need for clear distinction
It's very important to distinguish between actual scientific laws and what these laws are currently considered to be, by science.
    1. between my presumptions for the symmetries
    1. and the actual symmetries themselves,
    1. and in my inescapable inability
The two can never be ascertained to coincide, even when they actually do coincide.
    1. to ascertain that the two coincide
    1. irrespective of the available amount of evidence,

    1. and also that subjectivity
Subjectivity is what makes scientists feel erroneously certain that, what they presume the symmetries to be, are the actual symmetries.
    1. is the main reason
    1. that blurs this most important distinction.
Continuous Research via a Competitive peer review process, is indispensible.
    1. And in the need therefore,
Because presumed symmetries are never guarranteed to coincide with the actual ones...
    1. for continuous, diligent and free search
...there's a constant need for searching for inconcistencies between the presumed symmetries and the actual ones. This search needs to be free...
    1. for inconsistencies between the two,
    1. using all available ethical ways and tools
    1. by anyone interested,
...and open to anyone.
    1. and in any case
The results of a single individual, however well qualified, are not enough. Anyone's work has to be competitively tested by others.
    1. by the competitive joint action
    1. of several qualified specialists.
Anti-dogmatism, feedback mechanism.
    1. Finally I believe that
The Creed does not change the fact that reality is the ultimate authority. Even this text will need to be modified, together with any other view, if it proves to not lead to a worldview that actually works.
    1. the perpetual enhancement
    1. of the means to control
    1. stands as my highest priority
    1. and certainly above all current presumptions
    1. even the ones stated
    1. in this very text._

Please find here the same text without the comments, and here a discussion on why a Scientific Creed text is needed in the first place.


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