Questioning the rational exploration at the end of the millennium

Author: Stephen Jay Gould (USA)
Translator: Tian Ming
Editor-in-Chief: Ye Tong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features:
Fragment: Thinking and cognitive activities. Beyond science, human cognition and thinking also encompass literature, music, art, social sciences, humanities, as well as logic and mathematics. The development of science is even inseparable from drawing nourishment from these fields. Over the past 400 years, science has made significant progress, thanks to its open knowledge system, which continuously draws inspiration from other disciplines and can constantly correct its shortcomings, even errors. The philosopher Popper of this century once said that science is not absolute truth but approximate truth, and upon reflection, his words hold considerable merit. Sometimes, I wonder if the ancient Greeks defined philosophy as "love of wisdom" (rather than "wisdom" itself, implying that wisdom is limitless) was a very wise consideration. If there had been a concept of science back then, would they have defined it as "love of truth"?
Undoubtedly, if science loses its constraints, it can also bring harm to humanity, and it already has. Furthermore, awe and fear are emotions that are difficult to eliminate—some may even argue that they should not be eliminated, as this emotion is the foundation of morality and ethics, a key factor in social stability, and a significant source of literary and artistic creation. Both theoretically and from our daily experiences, we understand that the fearless themselves are often feared. This is one reason why many scientists in both China and the West believe in some form of religion. Scientists are human too, with rich emotions and needs, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities. They cannot rely solely on their professional knowledge to solve all the problems they encounter in life, emotions, and thinking.
Historically, at least in the West, religion played a crucial role in developing the minds of barbaric peoples and advancing civilization. Even in modern times, religion has had a positive impact on maintaining social stability and promoting the development of capitalism. In the West, science and religion (referring to Catholicism and Christianity) have a complex and intertwined relationship. Science is a latecomer to the realm of religion, and many of the issues it addresses were originally within the domain of religion. Science inherited an important premise proposed by religion—that this world is understandable (religion believed that because the world was created by a wise and rational God, it was understandable; while science argued that the world's harmony stems from its underlying rules or laws), and it is worth understanding (religion believed that understanding the world meant understanding and revering the God who created it; while the ultimate goal of science is the endless exploration of the unknown, and science believes in human reason and understanding). Science also inherited the rational thinking methods refined and perfected by religion—logical principles. Science grew from the academic institutions established by religion—universities. Even in the devoted and obsessive scientists, we can see the shadows of the past's devout scholars who meticulously pursued truth and remained indifferent to worldly pleasures. Of course, the God that some scientists believe in may not be the anthropomorphic image of an omnipresent, all-powerful being who interferes in human affairs at will. Rather, it is—such as the God believed by Einstein—a personification of the rules and rationality bestowed upon the world.