The Nature of Science
Does Science Aim at Truth?
- Realism: Science aims to describe the world as it truly is.
- Antirealism: Science is a tool for prediction and control, not necessarily truth.
The debate over whether science aims at truth is central to understanding its nature and purpose.
What Is the Central Feature of Science?
- Empiricism: Science relies on observation and experimentation.
- Falsifiability: Scientific theories must be testable and refutable.
- Systematic Inquiry: Science follows a structured methodology to investigate natural phenomena.
When analyzing scientific theories, consider how they balance empirical evidence with theoretical coherence.
The Role of Observation, Experiment, and Measurement in Science
- Observation: The foundation of scientific inquiry, providing data about the natural world.
- Experimentation: Controlled testing of hypotheses to establish causal relationships.
- Measurement: Quantification of observations to ensure precision and repeatability.
Galileo's experiments with falling objects demonstrated the importance of measurement in challenging Aristotelian physics.
How Does Science Develop? Progress of Science
- Cumulative Model: Science builds on previous knowledge, gradually approaching truth.
- Paradigm Shifts (Thomas Kuhn):
- Normal Science: Research within an accepted framework.
- Crisis: Anomalies challenge the existing paradigm.
- Revolution: A new paradigm replaces the old, transforming the field.
Kuhn's model highlights the non-linear nature of scientific progress, contrasting with the idea of steady accumulation of knowledge.
Methodology, Theory-Formation, and Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning: Deriving general principles from specific observations.
- Deductive Reasoning: Applying general principles to predict specific outcomes.
- Theory-Formation: The process of developing coherent explanations for observed phenomena.
Inductive reasoning is often seen as the backbone of scientific discovery, while deductive reasoning is crucial for testing hypotheses.
Nature of Theories and Hypotheses, Explanation, Deductive-Nomological Method
- Theories: Broad frameworks that explain and predict phenomena.
- Hypotheses: Testable predictions derived from theories.
- Deductive-Nomological Method: Explaining phenomena by subsuming them under general laws.
Newton's law of universal gravitation is a classic example of a theory that provides deductive-nomological explanations for the motion of celestial bodies.
Are There Some Questions Science Will Never Be Able to Answer?
- Metaphysical Questions: Issues beyond empirical investigation, such as the existence of God or the nature of consciousness.
- Ethical and Aesthetic Questions: Science can inform but not determine moral or artistic values.
- Limits of Human Cognition: Some phenomena may be inherently beyond our understanding.
How do the limitations of scientific inquiry shape our understanding of knowledge in other areas, such as ethics or art?
