How Human Experience Makes Science Possible
The text explores a paradox central to science: humans are both peripheral in the universe and central to the scientific reality we uncover. This paradox stems from the “blind spot,” a perspective that underlies scientific thinking but often goes unnoticed. The blind spot refers to the role of direct experience, which shapes observation and inquiry but is rarely acknowledged in scientific discourse. This oversight disconnects science from lived experience and promotes a reductionist worldview, where life is seen as mere machinery, ignoring the autonomy and agency of living systems.
Living systems are autonomous, self-sustaining, and capable of “sensemaking,” meaning they interact with their environments in meaningful ways that support their survival. This perspective challenges the reductionist view and emphasizes the complexity of life as an interplay between organisms and their surroundings. Cognitive science, with its exploration of mind and perception, offers tools to address the blind spot but often reinforces it, particularly in artificial intelligence, where environments are reshaped to fit non-autonomous systems.
On a planetary scale, the blind spot contributes to humanity’s exploitative relationship with Earth, exemplified by the Anthropocene—an era shaped by human activity. However, emerging scientific perspectives recognize Earth as a dynamic, interconnected system, where life influences planetary processes. This shift aligns with a more holistic understanding of science and life.
The blind spot also fuels “scientific triumphalism,” the idea that science has definitive answers to life’s mysteries. This overreach can alienate the public and erode trust in science. Instead, the text advocates for a science that embraces mystery, deepens our connection to the world, and values both objectivity and human experience. By moving beyond the blind spot, science can better integrate with the lived realities it seeks to understand.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
