‘We are being led by the science’. A familiar phrase right now.
It conjures images of highly intelligent, well educated, people pouring over experiments and data to arrive at well reasoned conclusions. The objective truth, something we can rely on. All very reassuring, comforting even. And wrong.
Science is messy.
It is an approach to testing theories and either proving them or disproving them. Whichever way the results of an experiment point us there are inevitably another set of questions that emerge, new theories to be posited, tested and validated or refuted. It is a never ending voyage of discovery.
From molecules to atoms to protons and electrons. Then onwards to other sub-atomic particles, the Higgs-Boson and who knows where next. This is science as discovery not truth. Always creating new understanding (when done properly).
To take comfort in the illusion of a definitive truth provided by science is a false comfort indeed. It is worth reminded ourselves what science really is and valuing the discovery and learning that it brings.