THE TEN GNOSIS MAXIMS OF SCIENCE

 Factual knowledge is the combination of experience and reason.

This is true to the extent that scientific knowledge has, according to Mario
Bunge, two essential features: rationality and objectivity. The first is related to
the systematized set of ideas (concepts, judgments and reasoning) and the
second with observation and experiment, which seeks to verify a hypothesis
formulated deductively from the ideas. Indeed, the methodology of quantitative
and qualitative scientific research presents these features by including in its
process the formulation of hypotheses, the collection of data, its analysis, the
interpretation of the results and their presentation in a scientific article.
 Every process of knowledge consists of searching for, posing and dealing
with problems in order to solve them, either with the help of existing
knowledge, new knowledge or in the light of reason and experience.

An example of the knowledge process is found in the discovery of oxygen.

Initially, the phlogiston theory prevailed, which sought to explain the existence of
this element through assumptions derived from alchemy. But, during the 13th
century, the work of the Frenchman Antoine Laurent Lavoisier led to the
discovery of Oxygen, starting with a change in the way of explaining the
phenomena of combustion and oxidation.

 Any proposed knowledge solution must be verifiably objective. Authority

and intuition can provide data, which can be corrected, but they do not count if it
is to verify or refute.
A clear example of this can be found in Popper's falsificationism and the
demarcation of science. This proposal consisted of considering that science was
oriented towards falsifying its results instead of seeking their validation in
reality. Thus, in a context where there was a debate about what should be
considered science and what should not, this demarcation criterion allowed him
to raise a criticism against Freud's psychoanalysis, Alfred Adler's individual
psychology and Marxism, which were oriented towards seeking aspects of
reality that confirmed their theories.
 Factual knowledge is obtained by observation, meditation or experiment
provided it is designed and tested rather than being casual or spontaneous.
A clear example of knowledge through observation is found in the hand washing
that all medical personnel currently perform before examining a patient. This
 regular procedure was implemented as a result of observation and scientific
research carried out in a gynecological clinic in Vienna. It was the 19th century
when the young obstetrician Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis was assigned to the
large general hospital in Vienna, which was suffering the ravages of puerperal
fever. This situation led him to carry out observation work and collect data from
two maternity wards, leading him to an initial conclusion: the existence of
“cadaveric matter” transferred by the hands of medical staff. In response,
Semmelweis suggested washing hands with chlorine solutions before examining
patients.
 The mental processes that occur during the execution of empirical
operations do not exert direct influences on anything external, if we are
seeking factual knowledge.
This is because factual knowledge is obtained methodically, that is, with the use
of a method, where our mental processes (judgments and reasoning) only serve
to formulate hypotheses about the regularities found in reality, but until they are
empirically verified, they do not constitute a scientific theory.
 Factual knowledge is partial rather than exhaustive, but it is perfectible.
The most accurate data and the best theories can be refined or replaced by better
ones. In science the rule is partial and temporary truth.
In this case, I return to the example of handwashing by healthcare personnel
and puerperal fever. The first conclusion that Semmelweis reached, after a
process of observation and data collection, was that there was a “cadaveric
matter” that caused deaths in maternity wards. However, a professor of forensic
medicine later died with the same symptoms of puerperal fever, but without
having had contact with any maternity ward. Semmelweis then began a series of
tests on rabbits to induce the disease, with the drawback of not using a
microscope; unfortunately, his colleagues did not consider his results relevant.
Semmelweis died in 1865. Later, the work of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch
would clarify that the disease was caused by a bacterial infection, in addition to
demonstrating the existence of microorganisms, thereby replacing Semmelweis'
proposal of "cadaveric matter."

 Factual knowledge can be improved both gradually and in leaps and

bounds. In both cases, any improvement is temporary.
A clear example of gradual improvement is the case mentioned above, where
Semmelweis initially proposed the existence of "cadaveric matter" as the cause
of death from puerperal fever in maternity wards, but it was not until the work
 of Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch that it was discovered that deaths from
puerperal fever were caused by a bacterial infection, giving rise to
microbiology.
As for improvement by leaps, we have physics that was initially developed on
the basis of Aristotelian cosmology, which was fundamentally geocentric, and
later, between the 16th and 17th centuries, a heliocentric model was supported
that would change the way in which physics was conceived.

 Scientific knowledge of a thing is indirect and symbolic. The most powerful

scientific hypotheses and theories contain non-observational concepts.
In this regard, we can refer to the atom as a good example of this maxim. The
atom is what is known in epistemology as an unobservable entity, since its
access cannot be produced directly from our sensations, even if a tool were used
that enhances our senses we would only perceive the remnants or traces left by
this kind of entities. Thus, the atom as an entity was initially proposed by John
Dalton, but as an unobservable entity that gave coherence to a model that
explained the way in which it structured reality. This model, which was
proposed at the beginning of the 19th century, currently presents a series of
flaws due to the advances of science in this field.
 The ultimate goal of scientific research is to discover the regularities of
reality and use them to explain, predict or reverse facts.
A classic example of this maxim is found in the work of Isaac Newton and his friend
Edmund Halley. To this end, in 1684, Halley was faced with the problem of the shape of
the orbits of the planets, an issue that led him to seek out his friend Isaac Newton, who
had already solved the problem with his mathematical calculations. That is to say,
Newton, using mathematics, had identified a regularity of reality that allowed him to
affirm that the shape of the planetary orbits was an ellipse. Likewise, Halley, using
Newton's mathematical calculations, predicted that the "terrible" comet, which was
sighted in 1664 and was blamed for the great plague of London, would cross the sky
again in the year 1758.

 The best theories are those that combine breadth with depth, as well as truth
with compatibility with other theories, in the same field of research or in
neighboring fields. And the best data are those that serve to feed or stimulate
research with better existing theories.
A clear example of this can be found in the work of Galileo Galilei and Nicolaus
Copernicus. As is known, both lived in a time where the prevailing cosmology was built
on the notion of a geocentric system. However, Nicolaus Copernicus was the first to
propose a heliocentric system, based on his study of the writings of Greek philosophers,
 although his approach only remained a hypothesis, as he could not prove it. It was not
until the appearance of Galileo Galilei and his observational work with his telescope,
based on the development of optics at the time, that the geocentric theory had an
empirical contrast. With this we can see how the development of optics allowed
astronomy to develop and move from a theoretical hypothesis to a scientific law.

THE TEN GNOSIS MAXIMS

OF SCIENCE
1. Factual knowledge is obtained
by combining experience and
reason. They do not exist
extraordinary cognitive means
accessible to a few initiates. If
there were
individuals endowed with such
powers, the results of their
efforts would not be
possible for public scrutiny and
criticism.
2. Every process of knowledge
consists of dealing with
problems, that is, searching for
them,
raise them and try to resolve
them, either with the help of
existing knowledge, or
through new knowledge, and in
any case in the light of reason
and experience.
3. Every proposed knowledge
solution should be verifiable in
in some objective way other than
mere compatibility with beliefs
established. Authority and
intuition can provide data,
correctable, but not
count as verification or
refutation.
4. Factual knowledge can be
obtained by observation,
measurement or experiment
provided that each of these
empirical operations is
designed and
proven rather than being casual
or spontaneous.
5. The mental processes that
occur during the execution of
operations
empirical methods aimed at
obtaining factual knowledge do
not exert direct influences
on any external thing.
6. Factual knowledge is partial
rather than exhaustive, but it is
perfectible.
Even the most accurate data and
the best theories can be refined
or modified.
replaced by better ones. In
science the rule is partial and
temporary truth.
7. Factual knowledge can be
improved both gradually and in
leaps and bounds.
In both cases, any improvement
is temporary, that is, it is
subject to review.
8. Scientific knowledge of a
thing, far from being direct and
visual, is indirect and
symbolic. The most powerful
scientific hypotheses and
theories contain concepts that
are not
observational (such as mass,
field, stress, genetic mutation,
viability, social class, and
political stability).
9. The ultimate goal of scientific
research is to discover the
regularities of the
reality and use them to explain,
predict or reverse facts. If the
investigation is
If we were to simply record data
we would have no need for
theories. And if we didn't have
theories, our data would all be
superficial or inaccurate.
10. The best scientific theories
are those that combine breadth
with depth,
as well as the truth with the
compatibility with other
theories, in the same field of
investigation or in neighboring
bosses. And the best data is
that which serves to
to feed or test the best existing
theories, or to stimulate
research that aims to build better
theories
THE TEN GNOSIS MAXIMS
OF SCIENCE
1. Factual knowledge is obtained
by combining experience and
reason. They do not exist
extraordinary cognitive means
accessible to a few initiates. If
there were
individuals endowed with such
powers, the results of their
efforts would not be
possible for public scrutiny and
criticism.
2. Every process of knowledge
consists of dealing with
 problems, that is, searching for
them,
raise them and try to resolve
them, either with the help of
existing knowledge, or
through new knowledge, and in
any case in the light of reason
and experience.
3. Every proposed knowledge
solution should be verifiable in
in some objective way other than
mere compatibility with beliefs
established. Authority and
intuition can provide data,
correctable, but not
count as verification or
refutation.
4. Factual knowledge can be
obtained by observation,
measurement or experiment
provided that each of these
empirical operations is
designed and
proven rather than being casual
or spontaneous.
5. The mental processes that
occur during the execution of
operations
empirical methods aimed at
obtaining factual knowledge do
not exert direct influences
on any external thing.
6. Factual knowledge is partial
rather than exhaustive, but it is
perfectible.
Even the most accurate data and
the best theories can be refined
or modified.
replaced by better ones. In
science the rule is partial and
temporary truth.
7. Factual knowledge can be
improved both gradually and in
leaps and bounds.
In both cases, any improvement
is temporary, that is, it is
subject to review.
8. Scientific knowledge of a
thing, far from being direct and
visual, is indirect and
symbolic. The most powerful
scientific hypotheses and
theories contain concepts that
are not
observational (such as mass,
field, stress, genetic mutation,
viability, social class, and
political stability).
9. The ultimate goal of scientific
research is to discover the
regularities of the
reality and use them to explain,
predict or reverse facts. If the
investigation is
If we were to simply record data
we would have no need for
theories. And if we didn't have
theories, our data would all be
superficial or inaccurate.
10. The best scientific theories
are those that combine breadth
with depth,
as well as the truth with the
compatibility with other
theories, in the same field of
investigation or in neighboring
bosses. And the best data is
that which serves to
to feed or test the best existing
theories, or to stimulate
research that aims to build better
theories