There is no truth in science | Kamala Patel | TEDxCalgary

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Chronic disease researcher Dr. Kamala Patel shares how there’s actually no such thing as truth in science. For Patel, scientific research isn’t about arriving at a truth but taking a journey of knowledge. She challenges us to ask not about finding truth but instead, looking for possibilities in what we already know.


Discovery comes from disruptive thinking and for Dr. Kamala D. Patel, PhD, this approach has guided her work in the area of inflammation and chronic disease over the last 25 years.

She is a Professor in the Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

She studies the human immune system, namely how white blood cells play into chronic diseases such as asthma. Dr. Patel is known for making an important discovery around the movement of white blood cells and she has received more than 5,500 citations for her research.

She is the Director of the Optical Imaging and Synthesis (OPTIS) Laboratories that provide both Canadian and international researchers with cutting edge microscopy tools to study acute and chronic diseases.

Dr. Patel is also the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and a member of the Executive Board of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases. She completed two terms as a Canada Research Chair and is currently an Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions Medical Scientist. She is also a member of the Canadian Institutes for Health Research Team on Chronic Inflammation in the Lung.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[henryf]

Never think of “science” as a conclusion. It is a method of exploration. The scientific process is not meant to provide the truth, but to provide a model of reality consistent with most of the observations.

[eurosonly]

People really don't know this? Nothing in life is simple and clear cut and it can never be answered with a simple yes or no. Almost everything is on a case by case basis. if you expect an easy answer in life to solve your problems you're only limiting your scope of knowledge as to how to fix those issues. Take the time to understand the issue and absorb all that evolves around it to get a clear picture.

[andrex]

All scientific knowledge is provisional, until we discover something new. It is the best knowledge we know at this time. But if science can't come up with the truth, then nothing can.

[michellebadillo]

Nothing is permanent.
Change is inevitable.

as the great philosopher and mathematician Descartes once said:


“To live without philosophizing is in truth the same as keeping the eyes closed without attempting to open them.”

“In order to seek the truth, it is necessary once in the course of our life to doubt, as far as possible, of all things.”

“It is only prudent never to place complete confidence in that by which we have even once been deceived.”

Scientists continue their research because they know an idea is not written in stone and they know they could be wrong.


Society can learn from this scientific process. To have an open mind.

If you don't question, are you really thinking? Will you ever advance? Will you come with a new solution to your problem when another fails, even if it once worked before?

Time is in flux. CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE. There isn't one answer. You can't always trust statistics. Never only yes or no.


Great video!

[h.tomaszgrzybowski]

If you care about truth in science (e.g. physics or biology), read the Science section of my article "Ethics and Truth in Science" - start by typing "H. Tomasz Grzybowski" in Google, then go to the Research Gate page or to Academia page and find the article - download it and read it.

[rajeshwarsharma]

First she should define the terms science and truth.

[themostgraciousqueenmarger]

Science is true when built upon mathematical equations that have a basis in infallible truths aka theorems. Logic is so important because it is the technique used to reason out the truthfulness of a theorem or equation. As of 1990, a new correct universal equation was discovered by Professor Gabriel Audu Oyibo, the most intelligent Mathematician of all time.

[lisebetta]

What an awesome presentation!  One of the best I've seen. Terrific real world examples that make the science so
much easier to understand!  Great job, K!

[hood]

objectivity is a myth.... truth is multiple, relative and fluid

[thomaswright]

The deductive method would not work if there was no truth. In order for there to be something that is false, by definition, there must me something that is true. We may never find it; It may very well be impossible for beings who analyze their surroundings via neurocomputational processes, as we do, to ever be able to discover or comprehend it. But that doesn't mean it's not there.

[netguy]

this is ground breaking and shes given all this from a staircase? Burh💀

[michaelreed]

We can turn to God to learn about science.

[TheGenzceo]

That's why I was able to talk this 'to' back this to to back this to to back this to to back this to to back this to

[doyouknoworjustbelieve]

She is 100% wrong.
Science is about finding the truth of how and why chemistry, physics and biology works

[iconsworld]

The title of this video is contradictory or self-defeating.
BEcause if you say that there's no truth to science. In other science is the truth, or what really happens. Or what is real. If that's not true, then the statement there's no truth can't be true too, it undercuts the whole line of the truth.

[GeorgeKirko]

Science was created to find the truth.. Why do you need a knowlerge otherwise?

[MortyrSC]

I didn't like this presentation, it seemed like a trick with semantics.
Science is a way to approximate the truth about the universe. Our knowledge may be limited and prone to future reiterations (hence approximation), but it doesn't mean that the truth does not exist - the universe works in certain ways, which we can discover.

[chrisdechristophe]

Click bait title, this woman is just taking ages to say the obvious, that science is an ongoing search for the objective truth. Plus I learnt from her little story that she made some basic errors. Plus I found her use of the term us at the end a little condescending.

[haithamelatrache]

didn't like it ...well especially the title
we use science to seek the truth. Truth doesn't care about what we think, it is what it is and it is pretentious to claim we reached the absolute truth

[NT-ihex]

Let's deny the existence of objective truth! LOL!