Science draws upon connotations of absolutism. Associated typically with facts, it is often believe that science deals with the right and wrong, omitting the grey are that lie in between. On the other hand, morality is often associated with a certain degree of relativity, given that it is affected more by claims, experiences and culture, than by facts. It is therefore often presumed that science fails to help answer moral questions such as what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong.

After all, it is both our personal and shared knowledge of facts, and our understanding of the world as Science has permitted it to understand it, that shapes our beliefs and morality.  The reasoning that goes into making claims, and ethical decisions, often rests on the principles of science itself. For example, why do people hesitate to injure a person, when it is so easy to forgive ourselves for destroy and break non living things, like pens? What leads us to believe that the value of a life, is significantly higher than that of a pen? This is probably due to the pain and suffering that comes with killing a person, which does not arise in the case of the pen, given that it has not the ability to respond. This is a factual claim, that explains our moral stand.

 

Morality revolves around finding the truth; scientific endeavours may also be considered quests for the truth. Yet, the manner in which we pursue these ‘truths’ is very different. Whilst both are influenced by the standing of others, Scientific questions may be answered with empirical evidence. Data is key is substantiating our claims, and while this does not eliminate discourse, it definitely reduces it. For example, the big-bang model can be proved using e cosmic background radiation, light element nucleosynthesis, evolution of large-scale structure, and so on. However, when it comes to questions like whether Euthanasia should be legalised, aspects like choice, liberty, and pain come into question which can rarely be quantified and weighed against other options. Science is therefore more collectivist in nature, while morality is more carefully moulded by personal knowledge.

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