Science is a specific discipline. It begins with observation of a phenomenon. Through observation, data is collected. Deep thinking then begins to postulate a theory which fits the data.
Once this is achieved, experimentation begins to see if the data really fits the theory. If not, the theory is adjusted or thrown out until the data fits. Once this is achieved, technological adaptation comes to the fore, the success causing new technologies to aid our lives.
SPECIALISATIONS
Further, science is a fragmentation of knowledge. It splits up the world into manageable bits and creates specialisations. The main specialisations are biology, chemistry and physics.
These, in turn, are split into sub-specialisations from cosmology to genetics. In this way, scientists can specialise in a tiny area of knowledge and make the best use of the mind. The result is the success of science, in all its glory.
One discipline within science is ecology. But when we look at this discipline, it soon becomes clear it isn’t a science at all.
ECOLOGY
Ecology begins with observation of an ecosystem, which is a group of organisms within, and reacting with, a physical environment. And that, essentially, is that. Data is collected, but not in the specific.
Theory is devised, but not necessarily in mechanistic terms. As for experimentation, this is not what ecology is about. Ecologists look and learn, not dissect and learn.
In this sense, ecology has been called an anti-science, and in this respect is not a science at all. This is why ecological matters can be open to so much debate, with theory being more akin to an asumption. Hence, whether we – the organisms studied in relation to planet Earth – cause global warming, or whether it is a natural phenomenon, will always be a subject shrouded in grey, rather than black and white.
HOLISM
Being an anti-science, ecology is treated with suspicion. And this becomes particularly obvious when you realise that ecology studies a whole system rather than its individual parts.
Whereas science breaks up the world into bits for study, ecology looks at the interactions of the whole. It is the first advance of holism into the scientific world. However, whilst science is correct as a discipline to follow, with its experiementation and technological adaptation, could ecology teach science an important lesson?
If we were to do a scientific study of this essay, a good analogy would be to have a scientist study each word. The word exists, is defined, and can be broken down and analysed.
SOMETHING MISSING
But it would tell us nothing of the essay. No meaning in terms of the essay is achieveable. To achieve meaning, you have to look at the whole, and construct the pattern of words.
This is what ecology does with ecosystems – puts the words of life together to provide meanings lost to science. Until science understands this, they will continue to work in a meaningless world.
© Anthony North, July 2007
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