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As an agnostic, I can relate to the idea of loopy science. Agnosticism as a philosophy and ‘faith’ [I consider it my faith, even though for me that includes a lack of belief in a deity] acknowledges that ultimate knowledge is unattainable. So, for me, it has always been obvious that science is not about establishing truth, but about establishing a greater understanding of your surroundings, using your own ideas along with others’ ideas in order to establish that understanding. It was particularly interesting to hear my classmates and professor as well, rant about how their teachers would always force this idea of linear science: hypothesis→experiment→conclusion.  I however, don’t feel that way. These were simply just the basic steps you took to make the process of scientific learning easier. I don’t know if I simply got lucky and had very free-thinking teachers vs. very conservative teachers that would try to convince 9 year olds they were going to find random facts no one else did before; but I was never stuck on the idea of science or scientists, as establishing facts through hypotheses and experimentation. Basically, I always just thought science was something cool, it was about learning new things and possibly shedding new light and new theories on old subjects.  Because I consider myself a scientific thinker, I also particularly like that this view of science allows science to continue forever, that there is no possible end to your growing understanding of the world.

When it comes to the question of whether or not we have a mind that’s not controlled by neurons, hormones, etc. I feel many would leave the answer up to religion. This point was brought up in class, that the uncertainty found in science allows religion to play a role in establishing certainty. However, as I said before, I am agnostic, so, no answer has really ever been given to me.  With my pseudo-religion in mind, my answer to that is that I simply cannot answer the question. There is simply no way to know whether or not there is a mind beyond the matter of the brain. Fortunately for me, I’m ok with that, I find it intriguing.