Scientific Method and Belief in Science

Study Notes

The traditional textbook model of the scientific method is flawed and doesn't accurately represent how science is done.
The textbook model involves developing hypotheses, deducing their consequences, and testing them in the natural world.

The problem of the fallacy of affirming the consequent: false theories can make true predictions, so a correct prediction doesn't necessarily prove a theory is correct.
Example: the Ptolemaic universe model made accurate predictions, but was later proven incorrect.
The problem of auxiliary hypotheses: scientists make assumptions that may or may not be aware of, which can affect the outcome of experiments.
Example: astronomers made incorrect assumptions about the size of the Earth's orbit and the sensitivity of telescopes, affecting their ability to detect the stellar parallax.

A lot of science doesn't fit the traditional textbook model; instead, scientists often start with observations and work backwards to develop theories.
Example: Charles Darwin's work, which was based on detailed observations of the natural world rather than a preconceived hypothesis.

Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity predicted that light would bend around massive objects like the sun, but this is not a direct proof of the theory's correctness.
The Ptolemaic universe model was widely accepted for centuries despite being incorrect, highlighting the limitations of the textbook model.