Theory+and+Germ+Theory

Two completely different responses came to mind when I read the prompt: "What do you think is the greatest theory ever?"

First, if I interpret "greatest" to mean "most powerful" or "influential", I think the theory that the word "theory" means "some scientist's guess which is I am free to disagree with" fits the bill. (A more specific statement of this theory, which is even "greater," is that the word "theory" means "some atheist, heathen scientist's guess which I am obligated to disagree with because I side with God rather than the World.") This theory has tremendously [|undercut the role of science] and, I would argue, certain forms of intellect in society and protected the domain of religious/revelationary knowledge from counterarguments or contrary evidence. I believe that groups of people who believe in an absolute truth on the basis of faith or revelation have caused and are causing severe problems and injustices across the globe, and this theory on "theory" has been tremendously important with respect to their maintenance of status in the world -- preventing advances in science, morality, ethics, etc.

Second, if I interpret "greatest" as something akin to "best", I think the greatest theory ever is [|germ theory]. Germ theory (which is not just some scientist's guess but is confirmed, or at least not refuted, by basically all known empirical evidence) has led to an end to brutal, inhumane, and ineffective medical practices in the parts of the world that are aware of and accept germ theory. It has also been the basis of efforts that have resulted in the saving, improvement, and extension of life.

Now, the hedges. The fact that germ theory has been used for evil purposes (e.g., Europeans giving pox-infested blankets to the Native Americans) or a widening of injustices (e.g., now some societies have antibiotics while others don't; in many cases, they are not available, and in other cases, they are simply refused -- see the theory on "theory" above for some insight into why some groups refuse), to me, does not disqualify it because similar reasoning would disqualify any theory worth considering at all. And I know we could get into a whole discussion of Eastern vs. Western medical perspectives, and I do not mean for this endorsement of germ theory to be taken as a vote of support for all Western medical practices. I also do not intend it as a vote of support for germaphobes and those who wish to install hand sanitizer pumps into every room on the planet. Finally, I do not want to conflate this with our cultural obsession with staying alive, viewing death as our enemy, and fighting death to the death. I believe that a candidate for next greatest theory, at least for the U.S., would be the theory that death is not something to fear but something to embrace, prepare for, and accept.

Sam Otten

P.S. Now that I'm thinking about it, I should have said that the [|theory of optics] is the greatest theory ever because, without it, I don't think we would have had germ theory. (This is assuming that precedence has something to do with greatness.) It also led, in part, to other pretty great theories like the heliocentric model of our solar system and relativity. This would have also connected more closely with my background in mathematics.