Science

What Can’t Science Account For?

Author Amy K. Hall Published on 08/20/2016

I’m helping out at CrossExamined Instructor Academy this weekend, and Frank Turek played this great two-minute clip from a discussion between William Lane Craig and Peter Atkins, wherein Craig lists five rational beliefs that can’t be scientifically proven:

  1. Logical and mathematical truths—science presupposes logic and math.
  2. Metaphysical truths—e.g., the idea that the external world is real.
  3. Ethical truths—e.g., you can’t prove by science that the Nazis were wrong to experiment on Jews.
  4. Aesthetic truths—beauty can’t be scientifically proven.
  5. Science itself—science can’t be justified by the scientific method.