History of Knowledge: Science and Philosophy

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Questions and Answers

What does John Polkinghorne suggest about questions arising from science?

They are strictly subjective in nature.

They are fundamentally scientific questions.

They can be answered using scientific methods.

They transcend the scope of science. (correct)

Why does the text state that genuine boundary questions cannot arise from science?

Science is limited to empirical investigations. (correct)

Boundary questions require scientific methods.

All questions must be scientifically validated.

Scientists are not allowed to ponder such questions.

What does Ian Barbour imply about the relationship between science and religion?

They are inherently contradictory.

Philosophy plays a crucial role in understanding their connection. (correct)

Science and religion must be studied in isolation.

Both rely solely on empirical evidence.

According to the discussion, what can be considered a good partner in the dialogue between science and religion?

Philosophy Signup and view all the answers

What role does philosophy play in the context of science and religion as per the content?

It provides a framework for understanding inquiries. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of epistemology is particularly relevant in the context discussed?

Analysis of inquiry and knowledge characteristics Signup and view all the answers

How do personal reflections of scientists on metaphysical questions relate to their work?

They vary among individuals based on personal beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What type of questions does the content suggest cannot be answered by science?

Subjective metaphysical questions Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis of Aristotle's understanding of knowledge?

Empirical observation Signup and view all the answers

What did Aristotle conclude about the nature of things?

Everything has an intrinsic goal and end. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of Aristotle's four causes?

Existential cause Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of the Immobile Motor in Aristotle's philosophy?

It explained the existence of the universe's final cause. Signup and view all the answers

What shift occurred in the understanding of philosophy and theology during the Middle Ages?

They were understood as harmonized steps in knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

Who is associated with the emergence of the first universities during the Middle Ages?

St. Thomas Aquinas Signup and view all the answers

What was a key idea that emerged from St. Thomas Aquinas's philosophical method?

Philosophy and theology can clarify each other's domains. Signup and view all the answers

How did the relationship between philosophy and theology change in the late Middle Ages?

They were increasingly viewed as separate fields of knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the Big Bang model from other scientific models?

It is the most widely accepted model among scientists. Signup and view all the answers

Which question does not fall within the realm of scientific inquiry according to the content?

Why does something exist rather than nothing at all? Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the statement that the universe needs an explanation 'outside' of itself?

There may be a necessary cause for the universe that is beyond physical explanations. Signup and view all the answers

How is the concept of 'self-creation' viewed in the context provided?

It is introduced as a philosophical contradiction. Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what role does philosophy and theology play in understanding existence?

They provide a framework for discussing ultimate reasons for existence. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested as the necessary cause of the universe within the context provided?

A being whose existence is self-sustaining, identified as God. Signup and view all the answers

What does the phrase 'ultimate reason for existence' imply?

Existence may be attributed to a higher, necessary being or cause. Signup and view all the answers

How is the advancement of science characterized in the content?

It progressively builds on experimental evidence to refine theories. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Historical Retrospective of Knowledge

Science in Ancient Greece (Aristotle): Knowledge based on empirical observation; natural objects follow patterns; teleological view—nature has inherent goals.
Four causes: Material (matter), Formal (form), Efficient (doer), Final (purpose).
Prime Mover: An unmoved, incorporeal entity, the cause for existence and maintenance.
Middle Ages (St. Thomas Aquinas): Philosophy as a means of explaining theological questions; philosophy and theology as two distinct steps in understanding.
Late Middle Ages: Separation of knowledge fields.

Science in the Modern Age (Newton)

Rise of modern science (16th century) emphasizing scientific method, mathematical formalization of sciences, and empirical evidence.
Distinction of science types: natural, human, and philosophical.
Shift from "reality" to "method" as the main criterion for knowledge.

Science-Philosophy-Theology Relationship

The relationship between science, philosophy, and theology is broken (shift in paradigm).
Rationalism (Descartes): Knowledge from clear and distinct ideas, mathematical truth.
Empiricism (Bacon): Knowledge from sensory experience, data-driven approach.
Positivism (Comte): Knowledge from experience; belief that only science provides valid knowledge (scientific materialism). Rejected mythological and metaphysical explanations.

Activity: Positivism and Scientism

Investigate whether positivism and scientism are scientific theories.
Analyze the contradictions or inconsistencies within these philosophies.

Science and Religion

Activity: Stephen Hawking advocates for the idea that physics can explain the universe.
Questions: Can physics answer the existence of God? and why?
Natural explanations: Physical laws, Big Bang model, natural transformations
"Self-creation": Contradictory concept; physical laws are not responsible for ultimate reason of existence.
Discussion concerning science's capability to fully explain the universe's existence.
Theological explanations: Ultimate reason for existence; existence of a necessary cause beyond physical laws, represented by God.

Methodological and philosophical approaches

Activity: "Verification" in experimental method
Falsificationism (Popper) : Knowledge advances by rejecting theories that fail empirical tests, not through confirmation; single negative result suffices to disprove theory.
Philosophical presuppositions: (Ontology—real world has natural order, Epistemology—world and order are cognizable, Ethical—scientific activity is valuable).

Criteria of Truth

Tradition, Authority, Logical Coherence, Verifiability, Utility, Evidence.
Hermeneutic Circle: rejecting a belief may require rejecting many other beliefs.

Synthesis and Analysis: Existence of the Soul

Activity: Analyze if it is possible to prove the existence of the soul (immaterial).
Examine related studies and experiments regarding the existence of a soul.
Determine whether studies support existence of a soul, or if phenomena are explicable by the brain and other physical processes.

Fundamentals of Experimental Method

Observation: Physical phenomena.
Hypothesis: Possible explanation.
Experimentation: Testing hypotheses.
Formalization: Laws and theories in a language (mathematics),
Publicity: Observations and experiments are public and accessible.

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Description

Explore the evolution of knowledge from ancient Greece to the modern age in this quiz. Understand key concepts from Aristotle to Newton, and how philosophy and theology intertwine with scientific thought. Test your grasp on the historical context and development of knowledge fields.