Natural Sciences Science is a way of thinking more than it is a body of knowledge- Carl Sagan...
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Transcript of Natural Sciences Science is a way of thinking more than it is a body of knowledge- Carl Sagan...
Natural SciencesNatural Sciences
Science is a way of thinking more than it is a body of knowledge-
Carl Sagan
Science is a way of thinking more than it is a body of knowledge-
Carl Sagan
Since 1600’s , or the Scientific revolution…Since 1600’s , or the Scientific revolution… Discovery of laws of physics 92 elements of the periodic table DNA structure and the human genome Splitting of atoms, cloning of sheep,
travel out of our world Personal efficiency revolution - trains,
cars, computers, phones, etc…
Discovery of laws of physics 92 elements of the periodic table DNA structure and the human genome Splitting of atoms, cloning of sheep,
travel out of our world Personal efficiency revolution - trains,
cars, computers, phones, etc…
Now seen as the dominant paradigmNow seen as the dominant paradigm Problem - not the only certainty “Science may be seen as the art of
oversimplification” - K Popper “Science is a way of describing reality; it
is therefore limited by the limits of observation, and it asserts nothing which is outside observation” - J Bronowski
Problem - not the only certainty “Science may be seen as the art of
oversimplification” - K Popper “Science is a way of describing reality; it
is therefore limited by the limits of observation, and it asserts nothing which is outside observation” - J Bronowski
So, the truths have changed over time…So, the truths have changed over time… What connotations does the word
‘science’ have for you?
What type of backlashes exist?
What connotations does the word ‘science’ have for you?
What type of backlashes exist?
What is the nature and status of scientific knowledge?
What is the nature and status of scientific knowledge? Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Vs
*Astrology, crystology, graphology, etc
Define in groups- what is the difference? If it works, why..?
Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Vs
*Astrology, crystology, graphology, etc
Define in groups- what is the difference? If it works, why..?
Scientific hypotheses are testableScientific hypotheses are testable Pseudo science- notable for vagueness
and ad hoc exceptions…impossible to verify or test
Genuinely scientific statement must be clearly stated and precise
Not depend on making ad hoc exceptions for counter examples
Pseudo science- notable for vagueness and ad hoc exceptions…impossible to verify or test
Genuinely scientific statement must be clearly stated and precise
Not depend on making ad hoc exceptions for counter examples
Which is scientifically testable?Which is scientifically testable? In 2016 you may or may not win the
lottery Everyone is selfish Acid turns litmus paper red
In 2016 you may or may not win the lottery
Everyone is selfish Acid turns litmus paper red
The method- it is not a body of knowledge, but a way of thinking about the world
The method- it is not a body of knowledge, but a way of thinking about the world
InductivismInductivism
1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Experiment
4. Law
5. Theory
What else is needed?
1. Controllability, measurability, reliability
1. Observation
2. Hypothesis
3. Experiment
4. Law
5. Theory
What else is needed?
1. Controllability, measurability, reliability
Think ‘Copernican Revolution’Think ‘Copernican Revolution’ Ptolemy’s ‘disorderly monster’ 1520 - simple and elegant idea - C Galileo - telescope- Venus does change in
size!!! Kepler’s laws of planetary motion Newton - law of gravity: force directly
proportional to mass of bodies, inversely proportional to the square of distance between two bodies
Ptolemy’s ‘disorderly monster’ 1520 - simple and elegant idea - C Galileo - telescope- Venus does change in
size!!! Kepler’s laws of planetary motion Newton - law of gravity: force directly
proportional to mass of bodies, inversely proportional to the square of distance between two bodies
The problems…of observationThe problems…of observation Relevance: Why do students get
colds? What to observe? Movies watched, diet, color of
underwear, heating
Relevance: Why do students get colds?
What to observe? Movies watched, diet, color of
underwear, heating
Problems, cont.Problems, cont.
Expectations: Vulcan reported, and then observed by
multiple astronomers for 50+ years..
Expert seeing: microscopes, telescopes, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear resonance imaging…
Expectations: Vulcan reported, and then observed by
multiple astronomers for 50+ years..
Expert seeing: microscopes, telescopes, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear resonance imaging…
Problems, cont.Problems, cont.
Observer effect: measure the temperature of a cup of tea- does the thermometer change the temperature?
Other problems…in classes?
Observer effect: measure the temperature of a cup of tea- does the thermometer change the temperature?
Other problems…in classes?
Problems with testing hypothesesProblems with testing hypotheses Confirmation bias - looking at some
evidence positively Ej- Virgos are shy Experimental error, ignoring anamolies,
dismissing contradictory evidence
Confirmation bias - looking at some evidence positively
Ej- Virgos are shy Experimental error, ignoring anamolies,
dismissing contradictory evidence
Problems with InductionProblems with Induction
Practically- how many observations to make an acceptable generalization?
No magic/true/set role here…
Based on our limited experience with the universe, can our claims to laws of physics be true?
Practically- how many observations to make an acceptable generalization?
No magic/true/set role here…
Based on our limited experience with the universe, can our claims to laws of physics be true?
Theoretically…Theoretically…
Science is supposed to be empirical- observation is what distinguishes it from pseudo science.
But if scientists refused to make any claims that go beyond actual observations, they’d have to abandon any talk of discovering laws of nature.
Science is supposed to be empirical- observation is what distinguishes it from pseudo science.
But if scientists refused to make any claims that go beyond actual observations, they’d have to abandon any talk of discovering laws of nature.
Critique- Karl PopperCritique- Karl Popper
What is the difference between psychoanalysis and physics?
“A theory which explains everything explains nothing”
Falsification - scientists should try to falsify a hypothesis rather than verify it.
What is the difference between psychoanalysis and physics?
“A theory which explains everything explains nothing”
Falsification - scientists should try to falsify a hypothesis rather than verify it.
Hmm…Hmm…
Although scientific beliefs change over time, is it possible each new theory is closer to truth than previous ones?
Although scientific beliefs change over time, is it possible each new theory is closer to truth than previous ones?
In your journals, for In your journals, for