40 Questions
What is a characteristic of scientific prophecies?
They say that something is likely to happen with a stated degree of probability
What is critical thinking primarily concerned with?
Testing and evaluating proposed solutions
What is the term for theories that have proved to be universally valid and have a high degree of probability?
Natural laws
What do theories enable us to do?
Explain, predict, and control phenomena
Why is it essential to include the right diagnosis in the possible diagnoses?
To ensure the final diagnosis is correct
What is the main reason why scientists and lay persons tend to be careless about thinking?
When their feelings are aroused
How was light viewed before the discovery of the theory of optics?
As patches and shades of color
What is an example of a scientific theory mentioned in the text?
Both a and b
What are the twin watchwords of the effective thinker?
Create and criticize
How should the six phases of the cycle be approached?
As a flexible process that can be adjusted as needed
What did ancient people believe about the origin of life?
That organisms originated spontaneously from non-living matter
Who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation?
Louis Pasteur
What is the primary factor that can interfere with objectivity in decision-making?
The fact that each one of us sees the world and ourselves from our own personal point of view
In what year did scientists discover microorganisms?
1676
What is the main goal of using the six phases of the cycle?
To ensure the final decision is sound
Why is it essential to practice using the scientific method?
To develop effective thinking skills
What is the main characteristic of objects studied in empirical sciences?
They can be observed and measured with instruments
What is an example of a sense perception object?
A cow
What do empirical scientists try to find out about the objects or phenomena they study?
The laws which govern their behavior
What is outside the scope of empirical sciences?
The study of abstract values such as beauty and truth
What is formulated in clearly defined statements, propositions, or statistical equations or formulae?
Knowledge in empirical sciences
What is an example of a non-sense perception object?
Goodness
Why is 'goodness' not studied in empirical sciences?
Because it is an abstract value that cannot be observed or measured
How do empirical scientists study objects or phenomena?
Through observation and experimentation
What was the title of the book that inspired Darwin's thoughts on population?
Essay on the principles of population
What did Darwin observe during his voyage that led to his idea of natural selection?
Differences in body size, form, and coloring among populations
Who is credited with the concept of natural selection?
Charles Darwin
What is the result of natural selection, according to Darwin?
A gradual change in a population over time
How do favored individuals contribute to the evolution of a population?
They pass on their advantageous traits to their offspring
What was the reaction to Darwin's publication of his work in 1859?
It caused an immediate sensation and widespread controversy
Who independently reached the same conclusion about evolution as Darwin?
Alfred Russel Wallace
What was the implication of Darwin's theory that disturbed many people?
That humans evolved from apes
What is the term used to describe the revival of learning in Western Europe?
Renaissance
What was the primary focus of Arabic or Muslim science?
Speculative reasoning
What sparked the desire for knowledge in the Renaissance period?
The translation of Greek books into Latin
What was the attitude of men during the Dark Ages?
They were satisfied with whatever they learned
What was the primary method of learning during the Renaissance period?
Direct translation from Greek
What was the significance of the Renaissance period in Western Europe?
It was a time of rebirth and revival of learning
What was the result of the translation of Greek books into Latin?
The satisfaction of the desire for knowledge
What was the attitude of Renaissance men towards ancient scholars?
They tried to find out new things for themselves
Study Notes
Science and Its Boundaries
- Science deals with objects and phenomena that can be observed through the senses or measured with instruments.
- Examples of sense perception objects include the human body, animals, natural objects, weather, diseases, plants, and insects.
- These objects can be observed with the senses or measured with instruments because they are material things.
Empirical Sciences
- Empirical sciences study objects and phenomena that can be observed and experimented with.
- Empirical scientists observe and experiment to find out how things originate, grow, develop, function, and relate to each other.
- They try to find out the laws that govern their behavior.
- The knowledge derived in empirical sciences includes inductive generalizations, laws, and theories.
Non-Sense Perception Objects
- Objects that cannot be perceived by the senses include values such as goodness, badness, rightness, virtue, beauty, holiness, and truth.
- These objects cannot be observed or measured with instruments.
Critical Thinking
- Critical thinking is the testing and evaluation of proposed solutions.
- Effective thinking is both creative and critical.
- Critical thinking involves developing possible solutions, evaluating them, and then selecting the best one.
The Scientific Method
- The scientific method is a cycle of six phases that can be used to apply creative and critical thinking to problem-solving.
- The phases are not a rigid procedure, and may involve going back to earlier phases or working on several phases at the same time.
- Each phase must be completed to ensure that the final decision is sound.
Scientific Theories and Laws
- Scientific theories enable us to explain, predict, and control phenomena.
- Theories provide a new way of looking at familiar objects or phenomena.
- Laws are theories that have proved to be universally valid and have a high degree of probability.
- Laws do not pronounce certainties, but rather provide a framework for understanding and predicting phenomena.
Evolution Theory
- The theory of evolution was first proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the 19th century.
- The theory suggests that species evolve over time through natural selection.
- Darwin was influenced by Thomas Malthus's idea that populations tend to outgrow their resources and must compete for what is available.
- Darwin's theory of natural selection proposes that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to changes in the population over time.
Science in the Renaissance Period
- The Renaissance period saw a revival of learning and a desire for knowledge in Western Europe.
- Learned men of this period began to study ancient Greek and Roman writings and to translate them into Latin.
- This led to a spirit of questioning old beliefs and forming new opinions, which characterized the Renaissance.
- The Renaissance marked a shift from a speculative, non-empirical approach to science to a more empirical and experimental approach.
This quiz explores the concept of sense perception and non-sense perception in science, distinguishing between objects that can be observed with the senses and instruments versus those that cannot.
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