Abstract

The powers and limits of science have been identified consistently as an essential aspect of science education by the National Research Council of the National Academies, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and National Science Foundation. Their mainstream position is balanced and sensible, but it has not yet been supported with reasons. A reasoned account of science’s powers and limits must explain and secure the resources needed to support conclusions about physical objects and events. The required three resources are appropriate presuppositions, empirical evidence, and standard logic. Mainstream science faces competitors that either diminish or else aggrandize science. Consequently, the scientific merit and future prospects of the mainstream position on the powers and limits of science could be improved by defending it with reasons based on science’s resources.