An essay worth reading -- "Elevating Science, Elevating Democracy" -- looks at the link between science and democracy. Dennis Overbye writes, "Science is not a monument of received Truth but something that people do to look for truth." I am pumping my fist in the air: Yessssss!"
Since I was diagnosed with cancer and began my efforts to be a Healthy Survivor, I've realized that many Americans live in a bubble of myth and misunderstanding about science. Many patients believe they can choose whether to believe in science or in some unscientific philosophy of healing. They often point to a tradition that goes back centuries, as if longevity alone makes it more worthy.
Understanding the relationship between science and healing is vital. So in Happiness in a Storm, I discuss in down-to-earth terms how science helps us understand the cause(s) of illnesses, the probable course of a patient's illness and the best treatment options. Then I briefly discuss the relationship between science and faith.
I also clarify the distinction between the science of medicine and the art of medicine, noting that some clinicians have mastery of the scientific understanding of a patient's disease and how best to treat it, but they have terrible bedside manner.
Science is a tool (namely, systematic observation and experimentation) with one purpose: to uncover the truth about physical matters. As a Healthy Survivor, use science to your best advantage and don't turn your back on science when it has something valuable to offer you.
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