Methodology of Science

LIMITATIONS OF CONVENTIONAL SCIENTIFIC METHOD

The conventional scientific method usually adopts the following steps in order to determine the "scientific truth":

Step I. Observation of Nature.

In order to attain a better perception of the happenings in Nature the human being normally should make use of all the five sense organs (audition, tactile, vision, gustative and olfactory). Nevertheless, in order to measure isolated happenings the conventional scientific method employs only audition, tactile and vision. Thus, the observation is incomplete. The concepts used even in these parameters are usually obsolete, some are erroneous and many are prejudiced.

The observations are heterogeneous and realized at specific moments without taking into account the process as a whole. Other factors are not even considered (such as climatic, genetic structural or functional variables). The absence of parameters to measure scientifically the taste and smell becomes evident at this stage.

Step II. Problem presentation.

The academic formation of the investigator and the available limited information are shortcomings or determining factors in problem presentation. The scope depends on the researcher and his point of view. Super specialization tends to ignore the process as a whole.

Step III. Arriving at a hypothesis.

The subjectivity of the researcher confines the hypothesis to a prejudice that expects to arrive at a specific result. The favorable results are then sought for, by all means.

Step IV. Experimentation.

This step is the most vulnerable one in the conventional scientific method. First of all the experiment should be repeatable. When the inherent dynamism of Nature is considered it is impossible to get two identical moments in relative space and time and thus moments are not repeatable. Experimental errors include human errors, instrumental errors and the variability of the external and internal conditions of experimental material.

As far as living organisms are considered there are no two individuals alike; one and the same organism is never identical at two different instances, the true dynamism of Nature.

Biodiversity is so complex and ample that so far it is humanly impossible to conduct a repeatable experiment. It is not possible to compare an "experimental" organism with a "control" one since the two are genetically, structurally and biologically different. The experimentation does not consider the individual qualities or organisms for lack of parameters to do so.

Step V. Theoretical conclusions.

Theoretical conclusions based on the four preceding steps are not reliable due to human and instrumental errors. Heterogeneous conclusions are not precise and hence are not comparable.