LABONITE, Stephanie GESTSOC - C34
11926678
ESSAY: "Debunking an Overplayed Bromance Between Science and Knowledge"
The world is filled with different philosophies, theories, perspectives, ideas and
conclusions on a certain subject, This is what we call Knowledge perhaps. Knowledge can be
defined as familiarity or information we obtain through different sources, not limited to education
or experience. Thus, it is the circumstance where we are certain of our own awareness of
something (“Knowledge”, n.d.). Numerous individuals are starting to uncover some of this
Knowledge and yet some are left as unsaid. Nevertheless, this world is continuously
progressing in terms of learning knowledge. On the other hand, Science can be retrieved from
these knowledge. Science is defined as a system of general truths or general law of the natural
world that is obtained and tested by scientific procedures (“Science, n.d.). Thus, this displays
the definite relationship between knowledge and science.
Our world is a place with a lot of unimaginable mysteries that are hard to understand due
to the different view we project on each mystery. The BBC Documentary has started by stating
the historic moment of Prague where religious and political change are in movement.
According to the documentary, science must be proved by means of evidence. Tycho
would always be convinced that there is further knowledge that is yet to be discovered. Thus, he
made instruments to further investigate his hypothetical assumptions on the world. He has
committed to discovery of new findings for over twenty years rather than settling for the known
claims. He presumably continues to gather datas, information and analysis from observation.
This proved that science is the approach of systematic processes and frameworks in order to
prove these hypotheses. It is unfortunate that Tycho was not able to give credit due to the
overwhelming belief system that has dominated over thousands of years. This significantly
shows that generally-accepted knowledge can dominate a certain place for a long time.
Moreover, in the vastness of time, Galileo has uncovered new evidence about the
cosmos. This evidence would out-stand that idea that the sun-centered universe is true.
Furthermore, he has continuously made evidence to prove his claims and his discovery. A book
named “The Starry messenger” which is well-written with his astronomical findings. He
promoted the idea to the people. However, due to limitation of ideas back then, the nation did
not believe in them as they faithfully believe in their own knowledge. This led to Galileo’s claims
to be denied and challenged by religious realms.
Due to this discovery, Galileo was found guilty and was put to life-imprisonment. This
proves that despite the occurrence of new knowledge by the means of science, people tend to
believe in their own knowledge. This is where it makes the difference. Knowledge is not always
associated with science since knowledge can be restricted with a series of different views while
science is all about finding one truthful view instead of a certain problem. Perhaps, this is how I
see the difference between knowledge and science. This instance made me realize that
absence of knowledge can be retrieved if there is disregard of scientific principle.
Similarly, this documentary has shown how a series of astrologers were able to uplift the
old knowledge and reveals new knowledge by the means of science. Moreover, we can also
see how science yields to knowledge and vice versa since it was shown how Isaac Newton was
able introduce Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation by the means of some tips from his
knowledge of his surroundings.
Throughout the years, humans are continually evolving steadfastly. It started 70,000
years before humans behaved sharp-witted to uplift their lifestyle. Humans proceeded to spread
rapidly and enter a new revolution one way after another. From the use of agriculture to the
utilization of hunting, humans are triggered to enlarge in numbers and also in knowledge. This
led to the rise of overpowering concepts such as religion, plotheisms, toxic monotheisms and
lastly trade off by capitalism (Galen, 2014).
In addition to the Harari’s An Animal of No Significance, it was seen that science can
indeed provide information to us since we can see the human (homo-sapiens) grow to be
dominant and common in this world. With the physical evidence provided, it explains the
theories behind the variety species that exist before and cease to exist now. He then continually
questioned the imagery of today’s world if these species survived. Moreover, he talks about the
theories of these said species on how they physically look like and what are their evolutionary
factors that affected the Homo genus and Sapiens. Moreover, it is also emphasized that
humans are underdeveloped (compared to other species). Because of this, they have to be
educated and socialize earlier than expected to survive. Human learning is modified and
formalized with decades since they are passed per generation. Hence, knowledge works on
science since significant traits and skills are easily acquired by implicating a series of human
learning even if they are underdeveloped (Wu, 2017).
However, despite having interesting points about science in civilization, they are not
proven and verified to be true. Thus, this is the reason why science and knowledge can not be
put together (tandem) since small/lacking information can lead to a big difference in idea or
context.
To add, humans are taught to hunt such that it is essential to survive for a living
environment that is changing. Due to this, in order to survive, hunter-gatherer societies develop
tools and devices to adapt to their livelihood. If the food is abundant in one place,
hunters-gatherers are most likely to inhabit the place and protect it against other competing
species (Groeneveld, 2016). Relating to Harari’s book, this illustrates the emergence of
homo-sapiens to suppress other species for their own protection. Evidently, it can be seen that
knowledge already takes place before the concept science is discovered. Nevertheless, we,
home-sapiens, have utilized knowledge in order to give an edge over their competitors and drive
them into extinction. This is probably the factor why we’re so different from other species.
Furthermore, large-scale corporations have also contributed to the sucess of the
home-sapien because humans are capable of building and organizing its species. Unlike other
species like wolves who function as a group, homo-sapiens are able to unite and bind
individuals by the use of myth (knowledge). This enables them to complete complex tasks and
motivates them to imagine (Gates, 2016).
Knowledge seems to be the end product. It is not always true but rather it is what we
conceived as to be true. However, in order to verify the knowledge manifested, science is
needed to verify said implication. In fact, science can help us measure and evaluate subjects
that we can’t understand except when it is explained with further explanations. Knowledge
involves the experiences and the influences whether it be our social groups or the old tradition
we practices. Meanwhile Science is building the knowledge you already have and extending it to
the unknown such that it can be beneficial for both present and future use.
Here’s a few examples of how knowledge and science can be differentiated in our life.
Oftentimes, when we are sick, our parents would always give us home-remedies that can
enlighten our health. This can be herbal or traditional medicines or messages to relieve comfort.
This mere reason for why they used home-remedies is because they have accumulated
knowledge from previous experiences or circumstances. However, in order to know the actual
cure for his/her sickness, hospital check-up is suggested to verify the possible symptoms and
cure for her sickness. Thus, this is relatively seen in our worldly daily life where knowledge and
science are applied to.
To conclude, it was evidently seen that Science is a source of knowledge where it is
seen that science is continuously giving new information that came to be knowledge. In
contrast, science also yields to knowledge as shown in Harari’s display of how home-sapiens
utilized theur knowledge to survive. They associate each other in a way that they serve basis to
each other. However, in my perspective, it seems that knowledge can’t always align with
science since science pertains to a systematic process of thinking and experimenting to find
factual knowledge. The goals they have are the same but contextually they are different. To add
to this, we can see that every significant science-related story, it will come to be unsettling and
unnatural to the people since they are bound by different views whether religious related or not.
However, we have to accept the evidence in order to understand our existence.
Documentary: BBC The Story of Science EP1 “What is out there?”
BOOK: Harari’s Sapiens “An Animal No Significance”
Additional References:
Wu, V. (2017, June 18). 1: An Animal of No Significance. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from
[Link]
Science. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.
[Link]
Strawson, G. (2014, September 11). Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval
Noah Harari – review. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from
[Link]
arari-review
Groeneveld, E. (2020, July 13). Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherer Societies. Retrieved July 13,
2020, from [Link]
Gates, B. (2016). How did humans get smart? Retrieved July 13, 2020, from
[Link]
Knowledge. (n.d.) In Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary.
[Link]