What do they mean by "the science"?

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

I've wondered about this for weeks as I have degrees in various types of science, but what does the government mean when they say "the science"?

Do they mean political science? Or is it another social science? Or is it the science Scientologists believe in? Or it simply pseudo-science?

I've written this because I've just read a thread about terms that come from the lockdown but some of the terms are not defined.

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

@MashedPotatoBrainz ahh the "Dr" Gillian Mckeith version of science.

[Michelleoftheresistance]

There's a Telegraph article questioning this too today, and commenting that the govt seem to be pulling this phrase out like a rabbit out of a hat to deflect questions and justify.

Increasingly it's evident that they have their own agenda and will edit, twist, manipulate and squash facts and evidence any which way they can to stuff it into the 'this is the right thing to do' hole rather than be honest about it. It identifies as science and they identify as being honest and open with the British public.

It's rather like the tidal wave of articles and bits of research about how jolly good school is and how children don't get covid suddenly unleashed to drown out early years workers asking how to do their job with both hands and one leg tied behind their backs, it's not subtle. Less 'nudge unit' than Mr Bean and a Sledgehammer Unit.

[MashedPotatoBrainz]

It's obvious isn't it? By 'the science' they mean the magical unicorn science that absolves them of responsibility. 'Not our fault, the science made us do it.'

[bibliomania]

Survival of the fittest ideas, that should say.

[bibliomania]

The strength of science lies in the challenging of theories, so that over time, the best available understanding emerges. Survival of the fittest data. But this takes time and data. Good science won't stop incorrect theories, it just kills them off eventually. So you can have the best scientists at work, and they won't be right from day 1. All that happens is thithe wrong explanations are weeded out over time.

[ErrolTheDragon]

That's arguable.
Some aspects of 'behavioural sciences' may be genuinely scientific (fitting with the definition of 'science') but other aspect ... not so much.

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

@ErrolTheDragon political science has the definition of the scientific analysis of political activity and behaviour - so is a science.

Social science has the definition the scientific study of human society and social relationships - so is also a science

Also you don't study a science in a vacuum. For example every course I have some has had some Mathematics in it. Mathematics is the abstract science of numbers, quantity and space, ether as abstract concepts or as applied to other disciplines.

So I'm getting the feeling the governments "the science" is really political science.

[Eyewhisker]

It means - don’t blame us, blame our advisers

[PicsInRed]

*VI!

[PicsInRed]

All I'm saying, is James I/IV would have been so proud.

He also followed the best recognised, mainstream science of the age.

[BackInTime]

Also the science that says that it's safe to open schools, hairdressers etc in Europe but not here.

[BackInTime]

I've often wondered this, especially the science that's said one week that large gatherings like Cheltenham were very low risk and the next week they said going for a walk or the park was fraught with danger unless you stayed 2m away from other humans.

[LittleLight42]

This is an interesting read about following the science: www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/28/theres-no-such-thing-just-following-the-science-coronavirus-advice-political

[ErrolTheDragon]

@BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup - the dictionary definition will do:

'the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.'

So... biology, epidemiology.

Not 'political science' , or 'Christian science' or whatever-with-the-word-science appended.

I think the government do mean science, but unfortunately afaik none of them are scientists so perhaps mistake it for magic...

The science of this country that is so different to WHO or other countries.

How is it 'so different' ... and different from which countries?
There have been many different political and practical responses to (afaik) the same information. Only time will tell who chose the wisest course. I don't for a moment think that will turn out to the U.K. government. But a lot of what a government chooses to do is related to its people, what they will adhere to. China could essentially do what it wanted; democratic countries without a large army not so much.

[Ifailed]

I'm afraid for a lot of people "science" was something they were forced to do at school, and involved watching videos of someone else doing "science", occasionally the teacher would do some "science", and all the pupils had to wear protective goggles.

This is the impression I got from my two sons, anyway.

[MRex]

Science isn't a cohesive static set of incontrovertible data, it has some known facts (# hospital admissions and available beds, test results, percentage public transport use compared to normal) and otherwise relies on modelling (expected R values, distribution of positive/ negative tests) and other times hypotheses (how far away from someone for the disease to spread, projections of percentage of people expected to follow rules). It is used as an indication that the government is taking decisions based on evolving information about the evidence and outcomes rather than according to a predefined plan that says "After 4 weeks do X".

As PP says, is the exact same information that any UK government would have been given. The government then has to decide from this range of information what steps to take next; SAGE will have given opinions and might not all agree. There is no single correct path that's clearly defined with the government stubbornly refusing to follow it by keeping kids off school or trying to send them back, whichever you think is the wrong answer.

[RozaDiPoza]

Mystic mog dog wagging tail left for yes right for no.

[Yangshanpo]

Eugenics

[Guacamole]

I wish they’d just say the current evidence or following current scientific and medical advice or following modelling or simulation.

[Irnbroothenoo]

The science is the exact same science Labour would have used if they hadn’t got trounced at the election.

[PicsInRed]

Its being used the way following The Scripture used to be used. It is seen as the preserve of the "good" and to fail to adhere is attacked as "bad".

I too think that trust in science will be damaged by the way it has been misused here with ever changing advice and opinions - and just due to changes to research or information but for political expediency.

And therein lies the problem. Science has become as politicised as religions are at their end.

[Pixxie7]

You would like to think that it’s information gained through research but I don’t think this can be the case as there hasn’t been time for any in-depth scientific research. It’s seem to be based on hypothesis. So not really scientific at all.

[twinnywinny14]

The science of this country that is so different to WHO or other countries. Oh but that’s because the politicians pick the science to suit what they want, the SAGe committee is not impartial and is influenced by the government

[Topseyt]

They never really explain it. They are always just "following the science" or won't be doing something until "the science" apparently indicates that it is safe to do so.

It always seems nebulous to me. I suspect it is just an attempt by the government to make themselves sound intelligent.

[CloudsCanLookLikeSheep]

All the scientists do is advise the government.
Very easy to pick the 'science' that fits the policy decision you wanted to make anyway.