Is Science Considered Common Knowledge Like the Cause of a Disease?

Defining Science

Science is the systematic and logical approach to discovering how the world works. It relies on the scientific method to obtain reliable answers and explanations for phenomena that require rigorous investigation. Unlike opinions, faith, or imagination, science emphasizes evidence and facts. Opinions on topics like the cause of a disease, for instance, can only become common knowledge if they are corroborated through the scientific method and withstand scrutiny.

The Scientific Method and Common Knowledge

The scientific method involves several key steps: forming a hypothesis, conducting experiments, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. When a hypothesis is proven through repeated experiments and empirical evidence, it transforms into scientific fact. This shift from opinion to evidence-based knowledge is what elevates a belief to the status of common knowledge. For example, the cause of a disease must be backed by scientific evidence to be trusted. An unsubstantiated opinion cannot be considered common knowledge.

History and Evolution of Science

The scientific mind is a relatively recent development. While practices involving prayer and faith have been common worldwide for thousands of years, the scientific method only emerged around 250 years ago. Prior to this, diseases were often seen as mysteries or curses. Many beliefs about disease causes, such as the myth that drinking cold water causes diabetes, are remnants of pre-scientific times.

The Study of Disease

In medicine, the search for the true cause and effect of diseases is crucial. This pursuit of understanding is seen as studying the natural laws set by God, with the goal of comprehending how things work and how they can fail. Medicine, as a field, is a blend of art and science. Pathology, the study of disease, helps identify the normal functioning of the body and then examines how these functions can fail to maintain health.

Understanding and Belief

Science is akin to perspective. It varies based on our vantage point and available evidence. Common knowledge, on the other hand, is a subjective term that can vary culture to culture or individual to individual. Although certain causes of diseases are well-understood, others remain elusive due to the complexities of medical science. Terminology like "almost," "nearly," "does seem," or "could be" often characterizes the uncertainty of medical knowledge.

Belief vs. Knowledge

Knowledge, whether it is scientific or not, is simply information that has been acquired through learning or experience. However, belief can be dangerous, as it is often the basis for opinions that are not well-founded. Belief can poison our thinking, leading to incorrect or harmful assumptions. For example, the belief that drinking ice water causes diabetes is not based on scientific evidence and therefore should not be considered common knowledge.

Conclusion

Science, because it is based on evidence and empirical proof, is a powerful tool for understanding the world. In the context of the cause of diseases, scientific knowledge is what becomes common knowledge when it passes the rigorous tests of the scientific method. Belief, while often deeply personal and meaningful, lacks the foundation of evidence and thus should not be equated with common knowledge.

Science continues to advance our understanding of the world, and as more diseases are studied and understood through the scientific lens, science will surely become common knowledge.