[QUOTE]Originally posted by RAF
[B]***Scientists are obviously “inspired” by “divine” bouts of creativity. That’s where all theories start. But the difference between Science and Not Science is that the theories are put under the micrscope of logic and experimentation.
Theoretical science, applied science, applied science in medicine. I didn’t pidgeon hole ya, ya did yourself. This assumes that everything is subject and understandable through logic and experimentation.
***Obviously we can’t live our lives like this. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow…BTW, I study Zen, Chi Gung, TaiJi, Xin Yi, etc. so don’t think I haven’t looked into these things myself.
Life isn’t lived this way and you don’t want the “tail” of science wagging the “dog” of life.
***Agreed. Science is not a philosophy unto itself. If anything I’d call myself a Secular Humanist w/ a bent towards Asian philosophy and psychology. Science is a powerful tool that is available to humanity. It’s the best we got.
You are right it is a tool and nothing more. It should learn to stay out of philosophy and metaphysics. However, it can’t because its driven by subjectivity.
***I definitely disagree with you here. Science should inform our philosophy.
Are there any limits to where science and the scientific method can go?
***Yes definitely. We will always have to make decisions that are more about the "heart "than the “mind” but we can be as informed as possible about those decisions.
Simply because they are put to the test doesn’t necessarily mean they have validity. Testing itself is riddled with subjectivity (incentives of grants do very interesting things to data. Publications and grants drive the tenure process and can obscure one’s “objective” view). Group and collective thinking, likewise.
***You are arguing two different points here. 1) The scientific community is corrupt. 2) The scientific method is flawed.
Yes to 1) and no to 2).
Do you think science advances through hypothesis testing and corroboration of a theory? Endless journal articles on statistical testing and appropriate tests and conditions. Endless journal articles and endless theories not subject to definitive testing but treated as fact. Lots of wonderful mathematical theories with lots of wonderful speculation dressed up as fact under the guise of “science and the scientific method”.
***Sure there is crap science out there. But the good science persists fads and trends.
Physics is especially in this realm.
***Or more specifically…cosmology. Human evolution is the same way. Theories are upset and new ones emerge at least once a month. But as out technology increases so does our power to answer these questions.
Maybe TCM will have to change the way scientists think about human functioning.
***It won’t change it but it will become absorbed into it as it is studied and analyzed. I’m not saying that TCM doesn’t work. I’m saying that what works and the reason it works will become illucidated by modern medicine and the scientific method.
I remember poor old dead Atkins in the 70s having to go before the Congress as they tore apart his claims and threatened to remove his medical license. The Harvard scientists all testifying about the “lack of scientific evidence” for the Atkins diet.
**I won’t go there. We know scientifically why it works. What we don’t know is the long range health effects of eating that way.
Too many variables in the human condition for Science and the Scientific method to deliver its Nirvana. If you took the Skeptical Inquirer and removed all references to science and put in religion, you’d think they had found Christ himself in a white lab coat.
**True. There are people that “pray to the God of Science.”
But I don’t consider myself one of them. I consider myself a common sense and rational thinker who is informed by science but not always guided by it.
In regards to the original topic of this thread. I think that the practices outlined are impractical and may be unhealthy. They seem to go against the natural functioning of the body and the benefits have not been documented by medical research.
Ahhh the price of salvation.
Ahh Mr. Fu Pow, you are a bright guy and I wish you well (sincere statement, no sarcasm to be read). Its not a bad idea to keep one eye open.
***Cheers.
