The Scientific Method - The Best Solution Generation Tool Known to Man

Science sometimes gets a bad rap because the results of science can sometimes run up a lot of bad feeling when misused. However, let’s, for a moment, detach ourselves from those emotive issues that really centre around the people who misuse the results of science and instead think of the process behind science that makes it so highly effective and how can apply that for our own benefit in our daily lives.

Humans crave predictability and for important issues we strive for almost any relief against uncertainty. Uncertainty implies risk and that can lead to varying levels of loss and difficulty - lost time, lost effort, lost resources, lost status through to loss of health or even death. We have an instinctive desire to avoid uncertainty and we tend not to be very discerning about what we turn to to provide relief. Hence the continued strength of superstition, astrology, fortune telling, and organised religion. Superstitious beliefs still hold power because because they prove right some of the time and for the occasions when they don’t work this can often be put down to misinterpretation or bad luck or evil forces. If following a superstition doesn’t kill us then we can normally bear the consequences (well, we don’t have a lot of choice, do we?) and if it does kill us then it’s too late to do anything about it. The great distinguishing factor of science is that the end result gives us knowledge that allows us to accurately predict an outcome for a given set of conditions, i.e. for a given cause we can predict the effect. This makes science so incredibly useful and powerful. It removes risk and allows a much better allocation of resources and hence higher productivity.

The scientific method details the process by which we consider problems for which the answers are unknown to us. The method has just four parts:
The question
The theory
The experiments
The answer

We ask a question, normally in response so some form of external stimulus. For example, when Newton sat under the apple tree and an apple fell on his head he asked a question along the lines of “What causes an apple to fall downwards instead of in any other direction?” The question leads to a thought process (a further series of questions and answers) that seeks to explain the phenomena causing the effect. Different hypotheses come forth that propose explanations and this leads to the development of a theory. The theory attempts to explain the full mechanism between cause and effect so that for a specific cause (magnitude, properties, surrounding conditions etc) an effect can be predicted without actually experiencing it. However, to test the validity of the theory experiments must be carried out that measure the inputs the mechanism of cause and effect and that measure the outputs. The experiments must be carried out carefully an exactingly to attempt to measure and record real events with as much accuracy as possible. If the theory has accurately predicted answers that concur with the measured results under all circumstances and to the level of accuracy possible then we can conclude that the theory works and that we have discovered a predictable relationship between cause and effect. If the theory does not achieve this then it must be reviewed and revised until it proves accurate and correct under all circumstances.

This method is the best method known to mankind for generating solutions that explain and predict the relationship between the cause and effect of natural phenomena. Knowing these relationships and consequences we can utilise them to create devices (machines, systems, methods, technologies) for which a known input will give a predictable output (dependent upon the controllable factors and measurable accuracies within the device).

This method bows to reality. It does not ignore factors that don’t fit the theory. Instead the theory is modified to explain and then predict the reality. This constitutes the huge difference between theories and beliefs. Both are initially abstract and imaginary concepts that attempt to explain and predict cause and effect. A theory defers to reality and seeks adjustment to fit reality. A belief defers to the abstract and the imagination and requires the believer to discount the evidence of reality. Reality must become distorted in the interpretations of the believer in order to ensure that the belief holds up. This becomes the fundament for most delusions and psychological ills. At the extreme it turns people insane. The majority of us end up ‘unsane’ - a General Semantics term used to describe people who lie at varying degrees between sane and insane. Remember that the root of sane comes from the latin word meaning ‘clean’ (such as in sanitation - the act of cleaning). To remain truly sane you must have very clean thinking. To have very clean thinking you must have very accurate thinking; thinking that accurately describes reality (as theories successful in prediction do).

When Alfred Korzybski wondered why science and engineering solves problems so well and yet politicians do so badly he recognised that the methods of science demand great precision. He recognised that of the 4-parts of the method of science, all of them except the experimentation phase depend upon language. The scientific method works because of the accuracy contained within the language used. Take away that accuracy and the method fails to work.

For the scientific method to work we must ask very accurate questions. These questions must be answerable (it is easy to ask questions that are impossible to answer see ARTICLE). The theory must accurately describe the cause and the mechanism that creates the effect. If it does not then the theory will not give accurate predictions. The answer must describe the experimental set-up and results very accurately otherwise the theory might prove false erroneously. The language of science makes up in large part the method of science. Take away the accuracy of that language and you have no science.

When Korzybski realised this he began to focus very intently on the accuracy of language used by other people for other kinds of problems. He began to see that a large part of the problems that people have in life, especially mental problems, comes from the fact that they describe those problems inaccurately in the first place. Because of this they can so rarely come up with effective solutions and so they remain trapped in their problems by the language and logic that they use to describe those problems.

Do you have a problem that continually perplexes you? Apply the scientific method to it. Describe the problem clearly. Come up with a theory (not a belief!) to explain it. Test the theory through real world experiments. Refine your theory accordingly and repeat until your theories predict your results.

Further Reading:
General Semantics
Why ‘Why’ Often Doesn’t Help
Turn Beliefs Into Theories

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