Here are 10 fundamental beliefs or understandings essential for grasping science; lacking these will make it difficult to properly understand scientific concepts and the scientific process:
1. Science is tentative and self-correcting — Scientific knowledge is always provisional and subject to revision based on new evidence; science does not provide absolute proof but builds models that best explain observations[2][8].
2. Scientific theories are well-supported explanations, not mere guesses — Theories represent the most reliable, comprehensive explanations science offers, distinct from hypotheses or laws[3].
3. There is no strict hierarchy where hypotheses become theories and then laws — Laws describe patterns, theories explain them; theories do not “graduate” into laws[3].
4. Experiments are important but not the only way to gain scientific knowledge — Observations, modeling, and other methods also contribute to science[2].
5. Scientific laws are not perfect or absolute truths — They are based on axioms and can have limitations or exceptions[5].
6. Science accepts or rejects ideas based on evidence, not by proving or disproving them absolutely — Evidence supports or challenges ideas, but no idea is ever completely proven or disproven[2][8].
7. Misconceptions often arise from intuitive, everyday thinking that doesn’t map onto scientific reality — Folk knowledge about objects, biology, or psychology can conflict with scientific concepts[1][6].
8. Scientific knowledge is built through a social process involving debate, testing, and revision — It is not a collection of fixed facts but a dynamic, collaborative endeavor[7].
9. Errors and uncertainty are inherent in scientific research — Precision varies, and models balance complexity and accuracy[5].
10. Words used in science often have different meanings than in everyday language — Misunderstanding scientific terminology can lead to misconceptions[1].
Without accepting these principles, one risks holding onto misconceptions that hinder understanding of how science works and what scientific knowledge represents.
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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_misconceptions
[2] https://undsci.berkeley.edu/for-educators/prepare-and-plan/correcting-misconceptions/
[3] https://serc.carleton.edu/sp/process_of_science/misconceptions.html
[4] https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/415-myths-of-the-nature-of-science
[5] https://sciencestruck.com/common-misconceptions-about-science
[6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3433289/
[7] https://explorable.com/science-misconceptions
[8] https://gizmodo.com/science-proves-ideas-and-other-misinterpretations-of-5919210