| Eliot classifies science as a myth on the basis
of the changing paradigms that the scientific method evolves, and
in the expectation that all current theories are temporary, and
will eventually be replaced by better ones.
I have some doubts about this:- one could also say that science
is an agreed reality for all of society, whereas sacred myths
form an agreed reality only for their adherents, and the other
types of myth do not form a reality with any agreement at all,
except for the individuals who find meaning in them.
However, one can also say that quantum theory is mythical to
nearly all of society except for a few High Priests of science,
but most members of society would subscribe to their theories
and agree with them, so perhaps it IS valid to call science a
myth !! (at least to most people). There is no serious disagreement
with the scientific system nowadays. However, science only deals
with what it is willing to deal with ("how does acupuncture
work ?" is a good question to ask any scientist. You will
find they are unwilling to answer - they will not deal with it
scientifically, and they may even claim that it is a myth !)
Eliot deals only with the physical sciences, where the paradigm
is testable by experiment. He does not mention the Social Sciences
or other academic fields, but I am sure he would also include
their theories as myths, especially as they are not always testable
or verifiable at all.
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