Scientific

Temperament

There is a huge discussion around

scientific temperament in India. A
section of intellectuals believes that
scientific temperament is declining
in the current scenario. They believe
that it is happening because some
powers are promoting religious
dogmas radically. For them,
promoting a scientific temperament
is a necessity in India. These people
give references to Article 51A,
Fundamental Duties of Indian
citizens, which also include the duty
to develop a scientific temper. But,
these people will never tell you what
exactly scientific temper is. They will
never release a single profound
document on scientific
temperament, which can perhaps
define what it means. But, for our
convenience, we can assume that it
probably is an extension of scientific
methods in our daily lives. The
problem starts right here. When we
use the term ‘scientific method’, it
comes with a certain criterion, like
seeking a reason and proof for any
belief. And where there is ‘scientific
method’, there is no space for faith.

Faith and scientific method are

incompatible. But, when we question
if scientific temper destroys people’s
beliefs and takes away their faith,
the classical answer is that scientific
temperament, in fact, is not against
faith but a tool to eradicate all kinds
of superstitions from the society. But
the question remains, how would you
differentiate between faith and
superstition. What we might consider
superstition, might be faith for
someone else. For example, in the
valley of Narmada, people worship
the river and take a bath in it twice
in a month. It is their ritual. And the
same people hang lemon and chilly
on a thread in front of their houses,
they pour milk on Shiv Ling as well.
So, can anyone infer which of these
is faith and which is superstition?
How would you distinguish between
the two? The fact is, nobody can.
And neither can scientific methods
be distinguished from faith and
superstition. Ultimately all three can
be called superstition, which very
dangerous in a country like in India,
where religious faith has been deep-
rooted since centuries.

Also, scientific methods are not

enough by themselves. They do
not help us find answers to various
questions. They do not guarantee us
the truth. They make people’s life
dry, they make them sceptical. To
live happily on this planet, we need
illusions and faith. But scientific
temper does not give specs for faith.
Imagine a world where everyone
practices scientific temper and apply
scientific methods in their daily life.
This world would just become
colourless. For example, problems of
free will (free will is an illusion) get
support from scientific temper and
scientific reasoning. We all know the
uncomfortable implication of
determinism.

So what I want to say is, that we do

not need to make scientific
temperament a necessity for our
ordinary citizens. We need to
promote the understanding of
humanity as well. For this, we need
better civic education. We need not
promote scientific methods, but we
need to promote civic values.
 The Branches of Science
The Physical Sciences
 Physics: The study of matter and energy and the interactions
between them. Physicists study such subjects as gravity, light, and
time. Albert Einstein, a famous physicist, developed the Theory of
Relativity.

 Chemistry: The science that deals with the composition, properties,

reactions, and the structure of matter. The chemist Louis Pasteur, for
example, discovered pasteurization, which is the process of heating
liquids such as milk and orange juice to kill harmful germs.

 Astronomy: The study of the universe beyond the Earth's

atmosphere.

The Earth Sciences

 Geology: The science of the origin, history, and structure of the
Earth, and the physical, chemical, and biological changes that it has
experienced or is experiencing.

 Oceanography: The exploration and study of the ocean.

 Paleontology: The science of the forms of life that existed in

prehistoric or geologic periods.
  Meteorology: The science that deals with the atmosphere and its
phenomena, such as weather and climate.

The Life Sciences (Biology)

 Botany: The study of plants.

 Zoology: The science that covers animals and animal life.

 Genetics: The study of heredity.

 Medicine: The science of diagnosing, treating, and preventing

illness, disease, and injury.