Science as organized scepticism

Real progress in understanding how the natural world works only truly began with the Enlightenment, with its guiding principle that the truth is to be found not by appeal to authority but by experimental tests and evidence. Unfortunately, but understandably, science is too often seen—in school, in university and especially on quiz shows—as certainty. In fact, science (including social sciences, engineering and medicine along with the more narrowly defined physical and biological sciences) is better seen as organized scepticism: a journey, over time, toward contingent understanding guided by experimental tests and sceptical questioning. Essentially all such journeys are beset by uncertainties of various kinds. This article sketches some of the consequent problems, particularly in relation to science advice, policy making and public engagement.