TOPIC 4: The doubter is a true man of science.(UPSC CSE 2024)

Introduction

“Doubt is the father of invention.”– By Galileo Galilei. The quote amplifies the achievements of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who had faced doubts from the Western world about India’s capability of developing space and missile development programs. There was a widespread belief that India lacked the resources and had no scientific foundation. Therefore, there was no competition in the global field. But, Kalam continued with his quest for India’s missile and space programs. Ultimately, India, under his guidance, developed its own satellite launch vehicle (SLV-III) and ballistic missile technology. And later he came to be called as “The Missile Man of India,” and he went on to become the President of India. Similarly, C.V. Raman was the first Asian to receive the honour in science for discovering the Raman Effect (the phenomenon of light scattering), busting the Western scientific myth that the blue colour of the sea was due to reflection from the sky. Similar other national and international examples include that of Aryabhata, Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay, Galileo Galilei, Albert Einstein, and many others ‘doubters challenged the status quo and inertia with the power of their doubts in the field of innovation introduced Science to the masses. Thus, doubt is a pleasant condition that makes life more liveable.

Interpretation

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – By Albert Einstein. The doubts often signify in a non-scientific world as a weakness or a lack of resolve that tends to hinder growth. But, Einstein’s quote highlights that is not so in the realm of science. The universe has infinite known and unknown possibilities, and science is a way to know and explore the same. The true man of science is thus who taps into these possibilities through questions, probes or interventions. They find challenges and scepticism as a door to solutions, the identified doubts or problems are their arena to innovate, explore and create – by providing solutions. For example, Archimedes’ rationalism led to the conclusion that the earth is not geocentric but heliocentric. It Is often said that ‘Universe has all the questions and the answers’ and that doubt is the main ingredient for innovation, more so in science. It opens up a pandora of a deeper research, analysis and enquiry through reasoning and critical analysis. For instance, Newton’s curiosity led him to observe things around him, and this led to the invention of Gravity, which in turn paved the way and is continuing today for other inventions. Later, Einstein doubted the classical mechanism of Newton, which paved the way for new discoveries. Thus, these examples highlight that doubts are the nucleus of discovery, and they help in the refinement  of knowledge. In fact, apart from technical science, the relevance of doubts through analysis, criticism, feedback mechanism, or empirical analysis has led to improvisations in other fields of social science as well. For instance, the Sickle Cell Anaemia Disease was once often associated with untouchability post-independence, but doubts paved more empirical research and questions and ultimately found that it was not a problem of untouchability but other social concerns. This led to the removal of untouchability. Likewise, in the case of the removal of Sati Pratha by Raja Rama Mohan Rai through challenging the non-scientism aptitude of the population towards superstition, Thus paving the way for social reform. Similarly, in India’s Independence, Dada bhai Nauroji, upon doubting the status quo created by the British, led to ‘The Theory of Drain of Wealth’, which paved for political struggle in India. Thus, the essay we will emphasise is not just on the scientific process but shall cover all aspects of life, as it seeks to question, explore, and seek evidence as a tool of inquiry.  Doubts lead to the evolution of knowledge, which sustains the generations to come, as the status quo continuously keeps getting challenged by incoming generations because it supports the law of nature that “Change is permanent”.

Elaboration

Role of Doubts in the Scientific Realm

“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – By Charles Darwin. This quote signifies the doubts serves as a catalyst in all the equations between man and the nature. The man in his quest to understand nature – ventures in the field of science. He gets lost in the scientific world, and doubts serve as a pathway to find his answers and himself. This scientific enquiry includes the existent and the non-existent evidences. For instance, in the 19^th century, Charles Darwin doubted the biblical interpretation of creation. Unsatisfied with the lack of evidence, he dedicated his life to research and found his answers, which the world today knows as the ‘Theory of Evolution of Natural Selection’ and his 1859 publication on The Origin of the Earth’ paved the way for deeper quests. As science progressed, so did the foundations of doubt, as more answers and more theories paved way for more doubts. Later in the 19^th century, Marie Curie wasn’t satisfied with the understanding of the atomic structure, and her questions led to her remarkable discovery of Radium and Polonium; this revolutionised the scientists, impacting all aspects of tech even today. Similarly, Einstein took ahead the gaps in Newton’s (17^th century) work to the 20^th Century, developing the ‘Theory of Relativity’ and entering into the dimensions of time, space and gravity.  As science progress at the physical and molecular level, a lot of avenues got opened which knocked the minds of scientists on Why? How? And What?  The rising population and better scientific discoveries improved the medical standards and more doubts paved the way for more empirical research and advances. For instance, the mid-19^th century had doubt linked with strong observations; the more Gregor Mandal doubted and observed, the more he experimented and finally came up with his ‘Basic laws of inheritance’. Later, in the 20^th century, the discovery of Penicillin(1928) to treat bacterial infections, strep throat, ear infections and urinary tract infections and Barry Marshal’s further analysis of bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the 1980s revolutionised the treatment of bacterial diseases and helped  man gain longevity. This ignited the scientific community and paved the way for more research in biology. Over the last few decades, different horizons have been explored in the avenue of Quantum Physics, which has an impact on all aspects of beings and science. For instance, from Niels Bohr’s development of Quantum Mechanics in the early 20^th century, Subrahmanyam Chandrashkehar‘s doubts about existing models of stellar evolution led experiments on Black holes and Further research on Dark Matter by Vera Rubin. The criticality of doubts and curiosity reaching the molecular levels have led to the latest remarkable discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Tool by Jennifer Doudna paving revolutions in the fields of medicine, genetic and biotechnology, helping millions of lives. Throughout history, doubts have played a critical and analytical role in shaping not only the scientific but also the social order. The replacement of manual labour through steam engines paved the way for economic revolution, while the replacement of the swords and horses of Babur with the guns and cannons of the British shaped the political, social and military culture of the world. Thus, a ‘doubter is a true man of science’ quite literally sparking progress, discovery and driving humanity towards further enlightenment.

Role of Doubts in the Social Realm

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” – By Bertrand Russell. This quote signifies doubt as a raw material and basic ingredient that gets the social bus moving as societies flourish with continuity of change. The force of doubt has led to not just scientific but social progress. Man and nature have been in a dynamic and curiosity prone relationship. For instance, at the individual level, in the early history of India, we find inquisitive women like Savitrubhai Phule who doubted the common belief that women weren’t made for formal education. Or Dr. B. R Ambedkar doubted and questioned the discriminatory norms and the legitimacy and morality of caste-based hierarchy and legitimacy in India. Their efforts led to not just women’s empowerment but also the abolition of untouchability. Similarly, in contemporary times, Anna Hazare questioning the accountability and integrity of Indian Political system w.r.t corruption created a civic movement towards transparency. At the societal level, Martin Luther King’s doubt rose from racial segregation in the US, which paved the way for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, dismantling intuitional racism. Likewise, Tilak’s and Gandhi’s challenge to the British paved the way for mass movements like Swadeshi and Non-cooperation movements demanding unity in social order in India. When doubts reach the national level, it leads to major policy changes in terms of formulation or implementation. For instance, Green Revolution of Swami Vishwanathan made India a food exporter to India. And doubts stemming from shackled of  centralised and protectionist economy  led to booming Economic Reforms of 1991 by Dr. Manmohan Singh. The empirical evidence and situations faced by citizens created doubts that often paved the way for innovation and entrepreneurship in the judiciary and environmental questions. For instance, landmark judgements of environmental justices through NGT etc have helped nature and man to co-exist responsibly and in harmony. At the global level, leaders and citizens have doubted the fairness and legitimacy of authoritarian regimes and sparked a movement to overthrow autocracy as a collective power. For example, The Arab Spring and The Anti-Apartheid movement by Nelson Mandela. Ultimately, the world collectively doubted the philosophy of wars post World War 2, and this led to the formation of the United Nations in 1945, playing an active role in peace, security and humanitarian cooperation. Thus, we see that doubts continuously challenge the established norms, they spark transformation at various levels. The transformation backed by doubts backed by perseverance and action leads to revolutions in thoughts and societies and ensures a safe journey of humanity towards justice, equality and unity in diversity, ensuring universality.

Doubter is a true man in science

“Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” – By Voltaire. The doubter  enriches not just the social and scientific issues but also touches upon various other dimensions of existence. The quote embraces doubt that by using ways of rationality, logical reasoning, questioning dogmas or challenging status quos, it helps in maintaining the balance. However, doubter, a true man of science, embodies the inclusion of essential traits that help navigate the complexities of societies. For instance, doubts paved way for refining the political system of India through the addition of Secularism in the Indian Constitution to ensure the multi-diverse society of India coexist religiously and culturally; similarly, in administrative thought, Mary Parker Follett regarded as the ‘mother of modern management’ and a ‘bridge scholar’ connecting classical and contemporary thought, introduced concepts of Group Dynamics as she challenged the prevailing Taylorism which was focussed on the rational economic man. Likewise, Herbert Simon introduced the relevance of values in public administration that led to ‘Bounded Rationality Theory’, which has used across dimensions of policy-making and administrative functioning.  Similarly, the PM’s doubts about removing corruption paved the way for demonetisation, and his vision and curiosity about technology gave birth to the  Digital India Mission reaching the last mile. Similarly, doubts about archaic British laws, which are not relevant in contemporary times, have been replaced by BNS, BNSS, etc.  Doubts about social challenges related to women have led to policy-level changes like gender budgeting, Beti Bachao Beto Padhao, and PNDT . The doubters who were not satisfied with the negatives inflicted by humans on the environment led to their quest towards moving away from non-renewable sources to renewable sources of energy; steps like EV, ISA, one nation, one Roof, etc. support the argument, etc. Thus, the doubter plays an essential role in the continuity of the paradigms. The quest for the truth creates doubts, which in turn makes doubter a true man of science.

Anti-thesis

Relevance of Doubting the Doubts

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – By Socrates. While doubts support civilisations, through inquiry and progress, and challenging status quo through curiosity and creativity. It can sometimes stifle innovation, create discomfort and prevent the required advancements. For example, excessive doubt may foster unpredictability by the doubter. Thus, the quote states that doubters over analyse situation which often causes paralysis by analysis, where timely action is needed. Thus, it can impact innovation and entrepreneurship. Also, a doubter may face procrastination due to perpetual questioning and this delay in decision making often leads to wrong choices. A recent example of using doubt beneficially is that implementing the Uniform Civil Code in phases will be more beneficial and ensure acceptability, stability and credibility. Likewise, the Finance Ministry’s effort towards the Vivaad se Vishwaas scheme kills all the doubts the government has about citizens vis vis tax payments and ensures bridging the trust deficit between citizens and the government. On the security front, excessive doubts lead have led to rising conflicts since the past. For example, Israel-Hamas war clouds created doubts in Iran and Lebanon about their security, which has further escalated the war. Likewise,  the Russia-Ukraine situation where the US is ensuring security through NATO has raised Russia’s doubt over its security. Thus, this highlights that relentless doubts may disturb peaceful relationship between nations and prevent global peace. Thus, it shows that trust and confidence is essential in established global and regional protocols. Thus, to conclude doubting and challenging the status quo is integral to scientific and social progress, it is also essential to recognize that sometimes ‘doubting the doubts’ can lead to increased productivity, timely action, social cohesion, and enhanced security in a complex world.

Way forward

Giving wings to the Doubts

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – By Confucius. To harness the power of doubt, it is important to implement different strategies at different levels. Foremostly, at the parental level, parents must shape a positive attitude towards doubt. They must foster an environment of questioning, creativity and encouragement and exploration, as it can help to build a scientific mindset which ultimately percolates down at the societal and national level. At the political level, secularism and socialism can be promoted to make way for diverse perspectives to help in inclusivity. And it can foster doubts to explore more innovative solutions to societal challenges. Also, at the state level, governments must encourage innovation through funding in research and development which encourages a spirit of enquiry and questioning the status quo that fosters inquiry and economic growth. For example, the global shift from non-renewable energy sources to sustainable alternatives like electric vehicles reflects the power of questioning traditional practices to embrace innovation. At the administrative level, embracing values in public services and a collaborative problem-solving approach with help from multiple voices and diverse opinions from all shareholders will assist the bureaucracy in addressing challenges of inertia and the status quo related to ‘Weberian Dysfunctions’ and promote tackling social issues using rationalism and scientific mindset. Lastly, at the ethical level, individuals must lay emphasis on values by placing doubts against corruption, mal-governance, unprofessionalism which in turn forces other members of society to cultivate a more trustworthy and cohesive society. Thus, doubts if given the wings with a purpose can play a catalytic role across domains. This ensures open dialogues, collaborative practices, and fostering critical thinking. Thus, it ultimately allows us to navigate uncertainties with confidence and creativity, ensuring a more resilient society.

Conclusion

“Man’s greatness lies in his power of thought.” – By Blaise Pascal. The quote reflects doubter’s importance in cultivating a prosperous society since time immemorial. The Bhagawad Gita reminds us that self-doubt, questioning – Who am I? What is my purpose? led to Arjun’s journey to self-realisation and, ultimately, the creation of a balanced society by killing evil. Similarly, Socrates and Vivekananda exclaims that questioning can help one reach the deeper truth of existence by overcoming ignorance and pursuing knowledge. Quite recently, the COVID pandemic has taught us that continuous introspection, scepticism, and rigorous questioning led to the evolution of vaccines so early, which was never seen in history. Doubts encourages the validation of facts rather than blind acceptance.  In an age of cynicism and misinformation, scientific doubt is needed now more than ever, as progress is anchored in evidence, not in assumption. In essence, the ‘doubt and the doubter’ fuels both inner transformation and societal change which keeps the spirit of science alive.