Science encourages openmindedness and flexibility from "summary" of The Demon-Haunted World by Carl Sagan
Science insists on open minds; the desire for a testable hypothesis. In science, we must be open to the possibility that our beliefs, however cherished, could be wrong. For a scientific mind, new evidence can change everything. Science encourages skepticism, the willingness to scrutinize. The scientific method is a way of systematically examining the world. It provides a method for distinguishing between what is true and what we merely wish were true. Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge. It is about asking questions, probing assumptions, and looking for evidence – not about dogma or beliefs. The scientific method is a way to keep us from fooling ourselves. It allows us to conduct experiments, to gather data, to draw conclusions based on evidence. It is a safeguard against self-deception, against being swayed by wishful thinking. The hallmark of the scientific method is rigorous self-criticism. It demands that we be open to the possibility of being wrong. It requires us to subject our ideas to testing and retesting, to searching for flaws in our reasoning. In science, a hypothesis must be falsifiable – that is, there must be a way to prove it wrong. Science is not about proving anything with certainty; it is about reducing uncertainty. It is a way to test our ideas against the harsh reality of the world. Science encourages flexibility in thinking, the ability to change our minds in the face of new evidence. It demands that we be willing to revise our beliefs in light of new data. It requires intellectual humility, the recognition that we do not have all the answers. Science is a way to confront our ignorance, to admit that there are things we do not know. It is a way to explore the unknown, to push the boundaries of what we understand. In the end, science is not about certainty; it is about doubt. It is about asking questions, challenging assumptions, and seeking evidence. It is a way of thinking that values openness, curiosity, and critical thinking. Science encourages us to be open-minded, to be flexible in our thinking, to be willing to change our minds in the face of new evidence. It is a way to confront our ignorance, to test our ideas against the world, and to strive for a more accurate understanding of reality.
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