Publication of the article “Science, Truth and Beliefs”

Publication of a recent conceptual article:
 
2018 Nov;34(11):990-998. doi: 10.1051/medsci/2018233. Epub 2018 Dec 10.
Science, truth and beliefs
[Article in French]
Laboratoire de l’angiogenèse et du microenvironnement des cancer, Inserm U1029, Université de Bordeaux, Allée Geoffroy St-Hilaire, 33615 Pessac, France, et Institut d’Histoire et Philosophie des Sciences et Techniques (IHPST), 13, rue du Four, 75006 Paris, France.

Abstract

This article aims at discussing some aspects of the relationship between science, truth and belief. I will primarily focus on the scientific activity in the biological and medical sciences and how it relates to the notion of truth and belief and not discuss the relationship with specific religions. Science has specific methodologies to obtain knowledge. Philosophers have analyzed how scientific knowledge is acquired and have tried to identify its characteristics and to establish some general rules of how knowledge through science is gained. Radical theorists have disputed the value of the scientific method despite science’s indisputable successes. If science is a rational activity, it is not free from belief. Belief can have a positive and negative impact on the acquisition of scientific knowledge and the idea of human nature. These different issues will be discussed in depth in this article.