Religion and Science
1. The Method of Argument
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But this difference loses its importance when we
consider that however related or direct an
experiment may be, the object perceived is, in any
case, a purely external manifestation of reality. It is
in no way the reality itself which is under
observation. It is similar to a telephone number
bearing an obvious relation to the owner of the
telephone, but in no way itself being the owner of
the telephone. It is as if here, too, what connects a
scientist’s observation and experiment to the reality
is a thing, which exists only in his mind that is, the
capacity to make inferences, and not his ability to
observe, or carry out experiments. That is why a
scientist says, ‘Theories are mental pictures that
explain known laws.’
Thus, although the turning on of a switch indicates
that there is a special relationship between the
switch and the bulb, in spite of this demonstration,
the real relationship is invisible. It is again our
powers of inference, which connect the switch and
the bulb with each other. Therefore, even after
conceding this observed relationship between the
switch and the bulb, whether or not the scientific
hypothesis regarding this connection is true or false
