To
what extent does language communicate and shape our knowledge in science?
Science
attempts to model reality and present it in a logical and disciplined manner.
It is not questionable that everything is subject to correction and
repeatability is required. There are many ways of knowing in science. The most
common ways are reason, intuition, sensory perception, imagination, memory,
faith, and, to an extent, emotions. However, language is also an important way
of knowing in science. Without it, scientists would not be able to present what
they have established or found.
Language
is the fundamental way scientists communicate with each other. Whether it is a
report which needs to be reviewed or a theory which needs to be falsified, they
all involve the different forms of language. So, does language really play such
an influential role in the world of science? The answer is yes. This is because
knowing something is different from proving it to others. In a way, language
presents itself as the proof for the works that scientists do.
Being
a science student, I completely understand the importance of language in science.
Without language, I would not be able to learn all the complex formulas and theories
I am currently learning. Language creates the basis of truth for whatever has been
established in science in the past. If someone did not write down everything that
they had discovered, people would not be able to move on and discover more. For
example, if great scientists like Galileo and Einstein had not used language to
communicate their findings, our world might still be making attempts to discover
the truth that they had found centuries ago.
The
most significant thing in science is attempting to understanding the reality of
our world. Science is the subject which puts everything into context in the real
world. Our knowledge is quite dependent on the way language is used.
Yavnika Kumar
MacLeod Cartoons. MacLeod Cartoons. Blogger - Google, 2 Aug. 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://macleodcartoons.blogspot.com/2012/08/union-of-concerned-scientists-cartoon.html>.
