I've often heard that science is capable of proving anything. Is this really true? Does science have no limits to it's deductive abilities? Sadly, there are some limits to what science and the scientific method can do. Let's take a look at a few of them.
Mathematics and Logic
Science can't prove mathematics or logic. These are presumptions to the scientific method. Science presumes them to be true and has not proven them to be true.
Don't agree? Try to prove these. Take away logic and mathematics and try to prove them. Try to prove logic to be true without using logic.
The Metaphysical
Science can't prove the metaphysical. One of the more talked about metaphysical elements is the supernatural. Science deals with nature. The supernatural is outside of nature and therefore outside the abilities of science to take a look at.
The Scientific Method
Science can't prove the scientific method itself. It presumes it. How can something use it's own process to prove it's own process? It can't. To even try is circular reasoning.
Why does any of this matter?
This is a question worth asking and the answer is simple. If we are to have a good understanding of what's going on we need to know the limitations of something. To wrap our minds around something we need to know some of the ins and outs. To hear something scientific and believe it we need to know what it's based on.
Good thoughts
Matt - I can't agree more with what you've written. I've been awed by science since I was a little kid (and maybe one day I'll go back and get that physics degree I always thought about). But we have to understand the limits of what science can and cannot do. Science is great at finding facts and helping us understand the physical universe. But 'facts' are not the same as 'truth' and science cannot find 'truth'. Many people either don't understand that or don't want to.
Science is in reference to beliefs
Don't forget that science is in reference to beliefs. For example, the big bang model is based on the belief that there aren't and have never been any special places (over a given area) in the universe.
For the big bang model this belief defiles the boundary points (or lack thereof).
This is something we can't test and can't prove. Yet, it's just taken as a given. It's a belief that directly shapes the output of our science and what is taught to people.
Notice this is not a fact. But, it does have the title Cosmological Principle. Seems factual, doesn't it? I don't mean to debate it. I think it's just good to know the context of such things.