People have several ways that they know about their world. The chart below lists some of the ways of knowing. One way of knowing is no more valid that another. However, as you read the chart please note that science is a way of knowing that requires the use of certain rules and methods that differs from the other means of knowing. Scientific knowledge is limited to the natural world. The other ways of knowing do not have these limitations. (Adapted from the Arkansas Science Teachers Association website.)
Religious |
Philosophic |
Cultural |
Scientific |
Seeks answers to any question that can be posed including answers to the ultimate questions ( e.g., What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? Is there a supreme being ?). |
Seeks answers to any question that can be posed including answers to the ultimate ( e.g., What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? Is there a supreme being?). |
Seeks answers to any question that can be posed including answers to the ultimate questions ( e.g., What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? ), but generally relates to how people treat one another. |
Can only seek answers about the natural world but cannot answer ultimate questions ( e.g., Is there a god? What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose?). |
Seeks predictions on any event based on faith and belief. |
Seeks predictions on any event based on point of view. |
Seeks predictions on any event based on belief and cultural history. |
Seeks predictions about future natural events based on observational evidence and testing. |
The rules may vary among the different religions. |
The rules may vary among the different philosophic views. |
The rules may vary among the different cultures. |
Has a set of rules that must be followed in order to be called science. |
Explanations are based on beliefs and faith and seek to understand and follow an ultimate purpose. |
Explanations are based on logic or viewpoint and seek to understand and follow an ultimate purpose and may undergo some type of testing. |
Explanations are based on beliefs and seek to understand and follow an ultimate purpose. |
Explanations are based on observation, evidence, and testing. |
Explanations can include supernatural forces. |
Explanations can include supernatural forces and viewpoints. |
Explanations can include supernatural forces and other historical viewpoints. |
Explanations cannot include supernatural forces. |
Hypotheses need not be part of the religion, nor do hypotheses have to be tested nor proved or disproved. |
Hypotheses may be a part of the philosophic view and hypotheses may or may not have to be tested and proved or disproved. |
Hypotheses need not be part of the cultural view, nor do hypotheses have to be tested nor proven. |
The hypothesis used in tests must be able to be disproved. |
Is a belief system and seeks truths. |
Is a point of view and seeks truths. |
May be a belief system rooted in historical views and seeks truths. |
Is not a belief system nor seeks truths. |
Knowledge may not change greatly over time, but may be swayed by culture. |
Knowledge may not change greatly over time and may be influenced by culture. |
Knowledge may or may not change slowly over time. |
Knowledge may change as new data (evidence) arises. |
Accepted knowledge does not need peer review or verification. |
Accepted knowledge may seek peer review or verification, but conclusions may differ among individuals. |
Accepted knowledge may seek review or verification, but conclusions may differ among individuals. |
All knowledge must have peer review and verification. |
