Science's illusory role

Scientific investigations have the objective of providing people with understanding of what happens and how this comes about. They are an anthropocentric invention aimed at satisfying human curiosity. Physical scientists have discerned only some aspects of how natural forces have operated for eons, operate now even in industrialized civilization as well as the natural world and will continue to operate long after the collapse of this civilization.

Science has provided people with sufficient understanding of how some natural forces operate that they have been able to construct technological systems that use natural material resources (wisely and unwisely) to temporarily supply goods and services while having the unintended consequences of outputting intractable waste material and immutably damaging the environment. The technological systems that have stemmed from scientific findings have done no more than use natural forces to operate on natural resources in producing goods and services. Technology has never created anything, despite the hype that humans have about its utility.

Mother Nature slowly responds to the parasitic operations of civilization without being aware of the mutterings of the invasive human species. But the populace still believe that scientific findings will allow them to continue the malfeasance of civilization's operations. They do not understand that scientists have provided understanding of only some of Mother Nature's repertoire with the fundamental physical principle being beyond their ken. Technological systems are irreversibly using up natural material in tangible operations. So civilization irreversibly uses some of Mother Nature's bounty for temporary relief while society hopes that intangible money flow will continue to power the illusion of economic growth although it does not pay the eco cost.

So when will society realize that the benefits they have enjoyed as the result of scientific findings are only one side of the coin. That the claims that science is advancing the the frontiers of knowledge  are really pointing out how limited scientific knowledge of the operation of natural forces had been. The failure of science to warn of the damage to the ecosystems of using fossil fuel to provided energy is but one example of the failings of science. Yet the illusion still persists because the flow of fiat money still manages to provide society with the benefits provided by technology. Ironically it also it has a significant impact on the research carried by scientists and,in many cases, on their findings!

Legacy

Most people hope to leave a useful legacy to family, friends or organizations. It enters into their planning as they age. The well off expect that the money they leave will help the benefactors to enjoy a pleasing life style.

That view of legacy is common myopia. The reality is that this generation will be leaving a legacy of:

• a fallacious belief that they can become financially wealthy without their activities degrading the natural wealth that natural forces have slowly evolved 
• a vast infrastructure that ages as it provides society with goods and services by irreversibly using up limited natural resources
• an addiction to these temporary services
• lack of skills to provide basics such as food without depleting irreplaceable natural resources
• a misunderstanding of the consequences of using fossil fuels to provide energy without taking into account what the material wastes produced by this process, including contribution to climate change and ocean acidification
• the failure to understand that technology has only been successful in providing goods and services by irresponsibly using natural laws to consume natural resources. It has not created anything. 
• technological systems that are devastating biodiversity and degrading terrestrial and marine ecosystems
• an addiction to the temporary power of money
• a belief in economic growth even as its foundations disintegrate 

Future generations will find it hard to cope with this legacy.