I didn’t say science was causal inference—I said it was explanation, understanding, meaning.
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Why? This is a classic case of different degrees. There's a continuum between classifying a galaxy and doing Nobel prizewinning work. In fact, the Zooites show it, rather nicely, with many, many different levels of engagement & understanding.
The different degrees do matter, of course. But there are hundreds of them, and few (if any) people encompass all of them. I've known Nobel prizewinning scientists who understand little of the mathematical models they're testing; I've known others who've never collected any data
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Murray Gell-Mann knows it all ;) I think about engagement a lot (as do you!), and worry about getting people over a line: from helping to doing.
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Go read some of the Zooite forums, for things like the discovery of the "Green pea" galaxies. You see people who initially know little follow their curiosity, and end up discussing the ins and outs of spectroscopy, what it means for a galaxy to be a new type, etc.
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