The Relationship Between Science and Reality

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The Relationship Between Science and Reality

The relationship between science and reality has more to do with coexistence rather than one idea being superior to the other. I shall first define what each means and then give examplester's of how I arrive a t this coexistence theory. According to Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1 ed., science is defined as follows:

1. a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws: the mathematical sciences.

2. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

3. systematized knowledge in general.

The same dictionary defines reality as:

1. the state or quality of being real.

2. Philos.

a. something that exists independently of ideas concerning it.

b. something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive.

I have a 5-year-old nephew who is alive because he received a heart transplant a few weeks after his birth. His parents very public request for organ donors received a lot of attention at the time, including a local radio talk show that discussed the organ donor program in general and whether this particular baby should be given a new heart. The replies were astonishing to me in both their intensity and their divisiveness. That some people could publicly say, "let the baby die…it’s God’s way," left me with my jaw hanging open. Some callers talked about how it was unnatural for science to be used in such a manner while others praised the fact that we now had the technology to allow a child, who might otherwise die, live.

Today, that medical miracle of science wil...

... middle of paper ...

...dual, not social preferences…[which] is why in almost every country in the world, the automobile has triumphed…"(p308). He concludes that cars make California more enjoyable. Our group all agreed.

As I stated earlier, The Relationship between Science and Reality, is about co-existence. We need both science and reality to not only coexist, but also to continue to improve our lives.

Works Cited

Random House Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition. 1999 ed.

Bishop, Michael J, "Enemies of Promise." Lunsford, Andrea and John Ruszkiewicz,

The Presence of Others: Voices and Images That Call for Response

3rd ed. New York: St. Martin’s 2000. 237-242.

Wilson, James Q, "Cars and Their Enemies." Lunsford, Andrea and John Ruszkiewicz,

The Presence of Others: Voices and Images That Call for Response

3rd ed. New York: St. Martin’s 2000. 303-313.

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