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Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic of scientific prophecies?
What is a characteristic of scientific prophecies?
- They are always universally valid
- They are based on unproven assumptions
- They say that something will certainly happen
- They say that something is likely to happen with a stated degree of probability (correct)
What is critical thinking primarily concerned with?
What is critical thinking primarily concerned with?
- Generating new ideas and solutions
- Testing and evaluating proposed solutions (correct)
- Analyzing symptoms to diagnose an illness
- Developing a scientific method
What is the term for theories that have proved to be universally valid and have a high degree of probability?
What is the term for theories that have proved to be universally valid and have a high degree of probability?
- Natural laws (correct)
- Theories of evolution
- Scientific laws
- Universal gravitation
What do theories enable us to do?
What do theories enable us to do?
Why is it essential to include the right diagnosis in the possible diagnoses?
Why is it essential to include the right diagnosis in the possible diagnoses?
What is the main reason why scientists and lay persons tend to be careless about thinking?
What is the main reason why scientists and lay persons tend to be careless about thinking?
How was light viewed before the discovery of the theory of optics?
How was light viewed before the discovery of the theory of optics?
What is an example of a scientific theory mentioned in the text?
What is an example of a scientific theory mentioned in the text?
What are the twin watchwords of the effective thinker?
What are the twin watchwords of the effective thinker?
How should the six phases of the cycle be approached?
How should the six phases of the cycle be approached?
What did ancient people believe about the origin of life?
What did ancient people believe about the origin of life?
Who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation?
Who disproved the theory of spontaneous generation?
What is the primary factor that can interfere with objectivity in decision-making?
What is the primary factor that can interfere with objectivity in decision-making?
In what year did scientists discover microorganisms?
In what year did scientists discover microorganisms?
What is the main goal of using the six phases of the cycle?
What is the main goal of using the six phases of the cycle?
Why is it essential to practice using the scientific method?
Why is it essential to practice using the scientific method?
What is the main characteristic of objects studied in empirical sciences?
What is the main characteristic of objects studied in empirical sciences?
What is an example of a sense perception object?
What is an example of a sense perception object?
What do empirical scientists try to find out about the objects or phenomena they study?
What do empirical scientists try to find out about the objects or phenomena they study?
What is outside the scope of empirical sciences?
What is outside the scope of empirical sciences?
What is formulated in clearly defined statements, propositions, or statistical equations or formulae?
What is formulated in clearly defined statements, propositions, or statistical equations or formulae?
What is an example of a non-sense perception object?
What is an example of a non-sense perception object?
Why is 'goodness' not studied in empirical sciences?
Why is 'goodness' not studied in empirical sciences?
How do empirical scientists study objects or phenomena?
How do empirical scientists study objects or phenomena?
What was the title of the book that inspired Darwin's thoughts on population?
What was the title of the book that inspired Darwin's thoughts on population?
What did Darwin observe during his voyage that led to his idea of natural selection?
What did Darwin observe during his voyage that led to his idea of natural selection?
Who is credited with the concept of natural selection?
Who is credited with the concept of natural selection?
What is the result of natural selection, according to Darwin?
What is the result of natural selection, according to Darwin?
How do favored individuals contribute to the evolution of a population?
How do favored individuals contribute to the evolution of a population?
What was the reaction to Darwin's publication of his work in 1859?
What was the reaction to Darwin's publication of his work in 1859?
Who independently reached the same conclusion about evolution as Darwin?
Who independently reached the same conclusion about evolution as Darwin?
What was the implication of Darwin's theory that disturbed many people?
What was the implication of Darwin's theory that disturbed many people?
What is the term used to describe the revival of learning in Western Europe?
What is the term used to describe the revival of learning in Western Europe?
What was the primary focus of Arabic or Muslim science?
What was the primary focus of Arabic or Muslim science?
What sparked the desire for knowledge in the Renaissance period?
What sparked the desire for knowledge in the Renaissance period?
What was the attitude of men during the Dark Ages?
What was the attitude of men during the Dark Ages?
What was the primary method of learning during the Renaissance period?
What was the primary method of learning during the Renaissance period?
What was the significance of the Renaissance period in Western Europe?
What was the significance of the Renaissance period in Western Europe?
What was the result of the translation of Greek books into Latin?
What was the result of the translation of Greek books into Latin?
What was the attitude of Renaissance men towards ancient scholars?
What was the attitude of Renaissance men towards ancient scholars?
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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.
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