When news outlets report on scientific findings, they frequently assert that science has “proven” various claims. Some of these headlines are downright absurd—ranging from “Science Shows That Beer Is the Ideal Beverage” to “Science Reveals You Should Un-Friend Your Ex on Social Media,” with my personal favorite being “Science Shows Your Cat Secretly Dislikes You.”
These types of headlines are, in a way, clearly exaggerated: no reasonable person would actually reevaluate their bond with their feline friend upon reading such a claim. It’s evident that the phrase “science shows” is often used for dramatic flair rather than to convey genuine proof.
However, it’s the more nuanced applications of “science shows” that truly concern me. While it’s obviously ludicrous to say that science proves your cat harbors animosity towards you, the assertion that “science shows cannabis may help prevent cancer tumors” seems far more plausible.
The Reality of Proof
In truth, science cannot definitively prove anything. Although we might have learned this fundamental concept in school, it’s easy to overlook in the midst of sensationalized news. Unlike mathematics or formal logic, science doesn’t operate on a binary system of proof and disproval. To grasp this distinction better, let’s examine what “proof” really means. A simple search provides us with this definition:
proof (noun): evidence or argument establishing a fact or truth of a statement.
Two key aspects of this definition make it incompatible with scientific inquiry. First, proof implies a sense of certainty or finality: once something is proven, it cannot be disproven unless a flaw is revealed in the original proof. For example, when a mathematician successfully proves a theorem, that is considered final—no further evidence could refute it.
In contrast, science operates differently. Even if substantial evidence supports a particular hypothesis, it remains possible for new research to surface that contradicts it. We have a wealth of evidence linking smoking to lung cancer, so we can assert a high level of confidence in that claim. However, scientists have not “proven” it in the same way a mathematician establishes a theorem because future evidence may alter our understanding. It’s also important to recognize that the statement “smoking causes lung cancer” doesn’t apply universally; it reflects a general trend, but some smokers do not develop the disease.
The second aspect of “proof” is its binary nature. In mathematics, a theorem is either proven or unproven—there is no middle ground. Conversely, science exists in a spectrum of uncertainty: different hypotheses carry varying levels of evidence and confidence. Some scientific claims, like the sun rising tomorrow, are highly reliable, while others, such as the relationship between caffeine consumption and health effects, remain more contentious.
The Role of Hypotheses
The primary role of science is to formulate hypotheses—ideas we suspect might be true—and gather evidence to evaluate these theories. If the evidence supports our hypothesis, our confidence in its validity increases. Conversely, if the evidence contradicts it, we must reassess our conclusions. However, since new evidence can always emerge to sway our understanding, we can never assert absolute truth. I can’t even be fully certain that the sun will rise tomorrow or that a pen will drop if I let go of it, despite high scientific confidence in these events.
The danger in discussing “scientific proof” lies in its tendency to obscure the nuances of scientific inquiry, forcing complex ideas into simplistic categories. Understanding these nuances is crucial for making informed decisions based on scientific evidence. If a study claims to prove my cat hates me, I won’t take it to heart. But if another study claims to show that cannabis may help prevent cancer tumors, I might reconsider my stance on using it. The pertinent question to ask is not “Is this true?” but rather “How strong is the evidence?” Framing discussions in terms of truth and proof complicates our ability to think critically about scientific findings. But then again, nuanced headlines don’t capture attention the way sensational ones do—had I titled this piece “Science Enhances Confidence in the Hypothesis That Science Doesn’t Prove Anything,” it likely wouldn’t have garnered as much interest.
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In summary, while science is an invaluable tool for understanding the world, it does not serve to prove facts in the way we might think. Rather, it offers a framework for building confidence in hypotheses based on evidence, allowing for continual reassessment as new information emerges.