Science is Real - Or Is It?

"How do we tell the difference between what we would like to be true and what is actually true? The answer is science."

- Michael Shermer, The Believing Brain, Kindle pp. 53-60

I live in Berkeley, CA where there are these signs everywhere: "Science is Real" (among other things).  What does that even mean? Easy: to be real means to exist, as opposed to being imaginary. But what does it really mean?  And for 'really' I'll choose "genuinely" from Dictionary.com's list of options. The meaning behind the meaning. The subtext. What are these signs saying? Why are they saying it? My current guess: the signs are saying the knowledge that science generates is real knowledge. It is the truth, not a belief system. And  anthropogenic climate change is real, as confirmed by scientists; therefore, it is real.

But science is a way of thinking, not a body of knowledge. Science is a way to acquire knowledge. Science is about being ruthless with oneself and the evidence; proposing and testing hypotheses, over and over; being careful, tentative, incremental and alert to alternative explanations.

If science is a way of thinking, what does it mean for science to be real? Nothing: the statement is nonsensical. Why not just say: "Human-caused climate change is real"? Well, the sign sellers and buyers say, everyone knows what we're talking about, so we decided to be pithy. Use few words to speak to bigger things.

But what's the point? Are you trying to convince the nonbelievers? I doubt the sign's wording will help - it's just too condescending (what's in your head is not real). So is it just about reaffirming Us against Them, a way of strengthening solidarity within the community of the liked-minded?

To what end?

Reference:

Shermer, Michael. The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies---How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths. New York: Times Books, 2011. Kindle