Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Religious thought vs Scientific Thought: a Flowchart

From Corpus Callosum comes this fabulous flowchart that very nicely illustrates the difference between the two modes of thought.

Notice how the religious chart ends, while the science one keeps looping around to look for more evidence and more understanding. This is science's great strength, but unfortunately its PR Achilles heal, and why so many flock to religious views despite science's superior epistemological record. Religion offers certainty, with the corollary lack of change, and no need for any of the hard work scientists spend so much time on. This holds much appeal for those who want a simple, black and white world so badly they are willing to ignore the considerable evidence that it is neither.

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