Humans made Science as the final determinant of truth to such a level that whatever question or problem that it cannot be resolved using its predetermined values or methods must be false or at least, doubtful. In other words, “to see is to believe.” And rightly so. Scientific methods have been useful in arriving at truthful or satisfactory answers to most of the questions and mysteries abound in our natural world.
It is easy to understand why many people rely solely on science to tell them what is true and what is false given that science use observation to prove a fact and we are beings of senses, that is, anything that is beyond our five senses is doubtful and everything beyond the purview of science is dubious.
Despite the advances in Science and Technology, there are facts we all accept as true despite the fact that their existence cannot be proven by science, meaning, they don’t have any physical appearance or attributes that prove they actually exist, yet we know they exist.
HERE ARE ACCEPTED FACTS THAT CANNOT BE PROVEN BY SCIENCE
Fact 1: CONSCIOUSNESS
Human consciousness or self-awareness and the realm of the mind.
Scientists and Doctors can talk extensively about the brain and all its functionality but they cannot really explain what and how consciousness come about through it and what is it all about.
Firstly, consciousness is the self looking unto itself and aware that it exists. In the words of René Descartes, “I think therefore, I am”. In Latin, “Cogito, ergu sum.” Secondly, it is the self being aware of other conscious beings like itself that are also aware of their own existence.
There is no doubt that we are conscious beings. The difficulty lies in proving scientifically what causes us to be aware of ourselves being aware.
We look at others and wonder what they are thinking; what their experiences like, their dreams, challenges and aspirations. We look at our life and wonder what’s it like to live a different life in the past, present or future. These self-awareness exist and we experience them but science cannot prove its existence nor its nature apart from some brain functions and neurological responses.
Fact 2: MORALITY & ETHICS
Humans live under certain moral parameters. Whatever we consider as good or bad is the result of instructions and practices we learned growing up. It is well-known fact that moral values and principles have direct affect on how human beings live out their lives in the community. Science, however, cannot prove their existence or explain their nature.
Morality and ethics are about what is right and wrong, good or bad. The way we conduct our selves on a daily basis is dictated and guided by morality and ethics. It does exist but we cannot use science to prove its existence and why.
While the subject of morality and ethics may be considered as within the realm of Philosophy and Psychology, their existence is undeniable but it cannot be proven scientifically.
Fact 3: FREE WILL
Humans have the ability to make choices independent of predetermined or random processes that are typical in other animal species.
While some preference may be greatly influenced by culture and tradition or politics, they can be changed at any given moment whenever the person sees it fit. As a matter of fact, even the assurance of death did not deter many people from putting up a fight, oppose oppressive form of governments or in support of a principle or belief.
Fact 4: Number
This is a bit confusing, specially for science which uses math extensively in explaining the existence and nature of our natural world. Even as numbers became integral part of human existence for so long, it is still mesmerizing to know that its existence cannot be proven by science.
We see representations of numbers, but science cannot explain their existence apart from their symbols. It cannot even say with certainty if numbers have independent existence apart from time and space. In fact, you might be surprised to know that number is a philosophical concept that is used as a scientific tool.
Fact 5: Time
Time can be defined as the measure of progression of change or movement. It is a continuous flow of sequence of events that moves from the past, to the present, then to the future.
The scientific community is still divided on whether time has an actual independent existence apart from matter or just a concept to explain how fast and how long change or motion occur. Nonetheless, time is really just a concept the existence of which can only be understood by using symbols to measure change.