a question from an entrance exam #2

Masanori TakaokaIs the answer "2"?

No. The answer must be #4 because of the following antithetical comment about strength.

Masanori TakaokaBut I don't get the meaning of the sentence.

I don't either, really.

Masanori TakaokaWhat separates science from all other human activities is its belief in the temporary nature of all conclusions. In science, knowledge is fluid, and certainly fleeting. That is the heart of its ( ). But it is also in greatest strength.

This seems a very peculiar characterisation of science to me.

I agree with Mister M.

That is the heart of its limitation(s).

Science is limited in that it can never declare eternal absolutes and rules. Its precepts and current state-of-the-art knowledge base are always subject to challenge, change, and alteration.
Other belief systems have the core idea of "absolute truths" that cannot be challenged. If "absolute truth" is the goal,

I should clarify that I have no doubt that (4) is the intended answer. But to say that this is what "separates science from all other human activities" is somewhat absurd, in my opinion.

GPYBut to say that this is what "separates science from all other human activities" is somewhat absurd, in my opinion.

The author takes that stance as part of a larger argument.
https://edge.org/response-detail/11087

GPYThis seems a very peculiar characterisation of science to me.

It's the whole basis of science. Science is driven by theories. Over the years one theory replaces another as new discoveries are made. What used to be "the truth" is no longer true. The fact that so few people know this testifies to how poorly our educational systems explain scientific metho

GPYto say that this is what "separates science from all other human activities" is somewhat absurd

Maybe all other human activities is going too far, but what other human activity regards truth as temporary? There may be one that you can think of, but I can't. Whatever it is, it won't be found among the world's religions, with the possible exception o

CalifJimMaybe all other human activities is going too far, but what other human activity regards truth as temporary?

There is no mention of "truth" in the part that I was commenting on.

CalifJimIt's the whole basis of science. Science is driven by theories. Over the years one theory replaces another as new discoveries are made. What used to be "the truth" is no longer true. The fact that so few people know this testifies to how poorly our educational systems explain scientific method, if they bother to do so at all. The easiest example is the theory of p

GPYThere is no mention of "truth" in the part that I was commenting on.

In "the temporary nature of all conclusions" I took "conclusions" to mean truth, just from other readings on the subject which I have encountered, which generally take scientific conclusions as true propositions about the nature of reality.

CJ