So it doesn't matter whether the scientific consensus has a truthful basis? I mean it could "come up with" anything at all. But if what it "comes up with" is a description of a phenomenon as it appears -- and observation must be confined to what "appears" -- and then a bunch of other scientists replicate the observation and say "yeah, we saw that too"; and then this consensus properly "informs" the public about their consensus regarding this "appearance" -- then science's job is done???
Strictly speaking, I think the answer is: yes. Science's job is done at that point. And it's quite sufficient from a technical or engineering standpoint.
But human reality involves problems that are not amenable to technical or engineering solutions. The historical record gives ample evidence that "all men desire to know" (or at least the ones that aren't brain dead) -- not just the details of what are at bottom ephemeral phenomenal "accidents," but the TRVTH of reality itself.
If science can't deal with issues of TRVTH, who/what will? Or is science telling us that if it can't do it, then it's just not a problem? So fugedaboudid???
RULE I. We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.
Isaac newton.
LoL... yeah thats what they are saying... At least many here on FR are saying/implying that.. But will never admit it.. Like a few consonants at the end of your name (i.e. Phd) make you "smart".. Tenure is a bad idea.. i.e. Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, many many others...
Not at all. Physical science deals with that which in it's province: the description and understanding of observable phenomena. It doesn't claim to deal with spiritual beliefs or moral codes. Trying to apply the theory of biological evolution (for which there is abundant physical evidence) to things like moral behavior is as much of a mistake as trying to apply the spiritual beliefs professed in the bible to modern science.
And your demand for a single, universally-accepted version of 'TRUTH' (whatever that is) is doomed to go unfulfilled. It's in the eye of the beholder. The numerous posters on these threads who reject modern physical science and ample evidence of that.