Philosophy of Science Concepts Quiz

The problem of distinguishing science from non-science.

Traditional scientific method based on observation and generalization.

A scientific theory can be proven false through experiments.

Disproving a theory through experiments.

Describing how science should be done.

Einstein's theory of gravity explaining the curvature of spacetime.

A test to confirm Einstein's theory of General Relativity.

The change in light's path due to gravity.

The scientific study of the mind and behavior, primarily conducted in universities and research institutions.

The application of psychological knowledge to real-world problems, aiming to improve individual and societal well-being.

The public's interest and beliefs about behavior and mental states, often found in media, self-help books, and popular culture.

The branch of philosophy that explores the nature and validity of knowledge.

A dramatic change in the fundamental assumptions and methods of a scientific field.

A coherent framework for scientific inquiry, guided by a central core of assumptions and methods.

The rejection of rigid rules and methods in knowledge acquisition, advocating for a more flexible and open-minded approach.

Reasoning from specific observations to general principles.

Reasoning from general principles to specific instances.

A framework of accepted theories, methods, and assumptions shared by a scientific community.

Competing scientific paradigms that are fundamentally incompatible and cannot be easily compared.

The routine, puzzle-solving phase of science where scientists work within a accepted paradigm.

A period of radical change in scientific thought, where a new paradigm emerges to replace an old one.

An observation or result that contradicts the established paradigm.

A state where a paradigm is under serious doubt due to multiple anomalies that can't be easily explained.

The process of explaining anomalies through auxiliary assumptions or adjustments to the existing paradigm.

A Hungarian-born philosopher of science who developed the methodology of scientific research programs.

A framework that includes a core theory and auxiliary hypotheses, which are used to explain and predict phenomena.

A view that scientific progress happens through competition between research programs, which are judged by their ability to make novel predictions.

Describes research programs that consistently generate new, successful predictions, advancing understanding.

His work reconciles rationalist and historicist perspectives on science.

Feyerabend believed that science does not adhere to fixed rules and should embrace diversity in methods and approaches.

Feyerabend's book outlining his philosophy of science, rejecting universal methodological rules.

Distinct approaches to understanding knowledge and science, represented by philosophers like Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos, and Feyerabend.

Scientists should aim to falsify their theories through rigorous testing and experimentation.

A dramatic change in the fundamental assumptions and methods of a scientific field, often triggered by anomalies that contradict existing theories.

A significant shift in scientific understanding, replacing traditional phlogiston theory with the understanding of oxygen and its role in combustion.

Galileo used rhetoric and non-empirical methods to defend the heliocentric model, despite the lack of direct observational evidence.

A theory that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic levels, replacing classical physics in certain domains.