Superstitions v/s scientific temper

Superstitions v/s scientific temper


There has always been a long debate between superstition and science. None of them have ever won as they are completely opposite.

For:

- Superstition is the fright of god. Though we have advanced superstition still holds its place right in the minds of the people.
- Today also before going for an exam or any good work, our mothers give us curd and sugar so that we fare well in exams or we are successful in whatever we do
- In IPL matches, the co-owners do not come to see the final match as they fear that they might lose the match
- Even though, how much ever educated we become we always have some or the other superstitions in mind on which we act upon

Against:

- Science entreaties reason, lucidity and can be explained, whereas superstition is just the anxiety of some supernatural power
- Science as said has a reason but even though superstition does not has any basis and logical reasoning we still keep following those superstitions without even understanding
- Even in metro cities, where majority of the public is educated and know internally that nothing happens if a black cat crosses your way, yet they would wait for some time to pass and then start again.

Conclusion:

- We should not act blindly on any of the superstition; there should be logic to act certainly.
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    Discussion

  • RE: Superstitions v/s scientific temper -Sharod Paul (10/03/15)
  • Superstition is nothing but simply a deviation from rational thinking.I would like to refer to an incident about the 1995 milk magic.On 21 September 1995, a Ganesha idol in Delhi was reported to have drunk the milk offered to it. Soon, as the news spread, similar phenomenon were reported from all over India and a few from abroad. Other idols, like those of Nandi and Shiva, were also reported drinking milk. The price of milk soared due to shortage and policemen had to be placed at temples to maintain order. Yash Pal, scientist and educator, called it an illusion. National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) scientists demonstrated that it was caused by capillary action by mixing red dye with the milk.So, i basically think each superstion has a logical analysis behind it.
  • RE: Superstitions v/s scientific temper -S.N.Surajbhan (09/26/15)
  • A productive one. Quietly brilliant.
  • RE: Superstitions v/s scientific temper -Rajani Sharma (12/30/13)
  • Superstitions vs scientific temper


    For:

    - Superstition is nothing but just the anxiety of some supernatural power. It is fright of God.
    - Superstition does not have any basis and logical reasoning. But still we keep on following those superstitions without having any understanding of them.
    - In a country where the majority are illiterates, there is load of ignorance that stands in the way of inculcating a scientific temper in this country.
    - Today we have become advanced, but still superstition holds its place right in the minds of the people.
    - We call ourselves open minded but today also before going for an exam or any good work, our mothers give us curd and sugar so that we fare well in exams or get successful in whatever we do.
    - We call ourselves educated but still we have some or the other superstitions in mind on which we act upon.
    - The simple and straightforward answer to these superstitious questions becomes generally unacceptable to the majority because these go against persons commonly perceived notions. And this single reason provides the strongest support in sustaining the continued beliefs in practices like palmistry and astrology (and witchcraft in rural areas). And this is the most serious obstacle towards inculcating a scientific temper in this country which must be tackled first.
    - Even in metro cities, where majority of the public is educated and know internally that nothing happens if a black cat crosses your way, yet they would wait for some time to pass and then start again.
    - Religion is the main reason for such superstitions as religion tends to close the mind and produce intolerance, credulity and superstition, emotionalism and irrationalism, and a temper of a dependent person.

    Against:

    - Scientific temper is the temper of a free man which describes an attitude which involves the application of logic, discussion, argument and analysis. Elements of fairness, equality and democracy are built into it.
    - Scientific temper is a way of life - an individual and social process of thinking and acting - which uses a scientific method, which may include questioning, observing physical reality, testing, hypothesizing, analysing, and communicating. Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the first people to use the term scientific temper and advocate the promotion of scientific temper.
    - Scientific temper goes beyond the domain in which science is normally done, and deals also with the consideration of ultimate purposes, beauty, goodness, and truth.
    - Scientific temper goes beyond objectivity and fosters creativity and progress. More of scientific temper would spread, and domain of religion would shrink, then the exciting adventure of fresh and never ceasing discoveries, of new panoramas will open out and new ways of living will emerge making it richer and more complete.
    - Science gives reason, clarity and can be explained. Science as said has a reason.
    - Science gives logic reasoning behind everything instead of acting on something blindly.
    - Most of superstitions have some scientific basis, but they have been badly distorted over time. Over generations, the science component has gotten lost and become something else. Moreover, today, because of political and other kinds of dominance, we have come to the conclusion that if something comes from the West it is science, if it comes from the East it is superstition.
    - Instead of creating the necessary internal and external atmosphere so that the right kind of situation can happen, we always look for something else to make things happen. How you experienced today within yourself is definitely yours. It is not decided by the superstitions you believe in. It simply depends on how sensibly, intelligently, and with awareness you live life.