[Faraday]

We will never know why simple things like gravity and magnetism work

Of course the key word in this "why". If you include the transcendent in your hypothesis, it is easy to deduce "intelligent design." Science is unconcerned with such "whys". It takes the universe to exist and to operate in ways that can be understood via observation, experimentation, and theory testing. On this level we know a whole lot about gravity and magnetism. (BTW, these two [of four] fundamental forces, are not all that simple.) If the answer, "because God made it that way," suffices for you, fine. Though, if all of our species took that attitude, we'd still be living in caves.

[jjm2111]

I'll never understand why the most wackadoo thumping fundies have to think that science and religion are mutually exclusive.

[RightWhale]

the key word in this "why".

That's the thing, of course. "Why" is the instrumental case of "what" and implies an actor, agent, or motive.

Scientists don't waste much time on "why." Simply finding "what" or "how" is enough to keep one busy.

[RightWhale]

the key word in this "why".

That's the thing, of course. "Why" is the instrumental case of "what" and implies an actor, agent, or motive.

Scientists don't waste much time on "why." Simply finding "what" or "how" is enough to keep one busy.

[biblewonk]

Science is unconcerned with such "whys".

What a silly statement. Let's think about that one. Science is about all the whys.

[biblewonk]

Like, why is it that when you shoot a 16 inch canon at a 45 degree angle, and an m16, both with about the same muzzle velocity, the large projectile goes farther?

[biblewonk]

Or, if a battery discharges across a resistive load in 1 hr then how long will it take to discharge 2 such batteries in series across the same load. Ok you could form that question into a why question but I'd have to give away the answer.