Science, this very creative human endeavor to understand the nature of the reality that exists independently of ourselves, is impossible. By "impossible," I am not saying "very, very difficult," although it is that, as well. We use our senses and instruments to extend them to try to map reality (at least those bits we care about) onto our consciousness and perceive that the map we collectively share is the reality. I know I am being very Cartesian here, but hopefully you can see what the problem is: the "map" is not the reality. So the endeavor is, therefore, impossible.
My mandate here is to identify the sources of stress in our scientific lives, and to suggest ways to deal with them. I have taken the Red Queen's advice regarding a number of impossible things (by which I mean "very, very difficult") that might be believed before breakfast. My only credentials are that I, too, experience the same stress every day, albeit not always before breakfast.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Opinion: 6 impossible things - The Scientist - Magazine of the Life Sciences
Author: Douglas R. Green
