Methods of knowing and Science PDF

I. Intro to Social Science - Methods of knowing - Science A. Methods of Knowing (contd.) 1. Method of Tenacity Here people hold firmly to the truth, the truth that they know to be true because they hold firmly to it, because they have always known it to be true. A. M...

I. Intro to Social Science - Methods of knowing - Science A. Methods of Knowing (contd.) 1. Method of Tenacity Here people hold firmly to the truth, the truth that they know to be true because they hold firmly to it, because they have always known it to be true. A. Methods of Knowing (contd.) 2. Method of Authority This is the method of established belief. Ex. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration A. Methods of Knowing (contd.) 3. The A Priori method Method of intuition (common sense). It rests its case for superiority on the assumption that the propositions accepted by the “a priorist” are self-evident. Ex. American education is inferior to Asian. A. Methods of Knowing (contd.) 4. Method of Science A method should be found by which our beliefs may be determined by nothing human, but by something upon which our thinking has no effect. The ultimate conclusion of every man shall be the same. B. Characteristics of Science 1. Objective 2. Empirical 3. Controlled 4. Systematic 4. Self-correcting 6. Authority-free 7. Verifiable and Falsifiable 8. Skeptical C. Goals of Science 1. Document empirical regularities/relationships 2. Predict future outcomes 3. Explain relationships/regularities i.e., Why? 4. Control Rule out alternative explanations Scientific vs. Nonscientific Questions  Scientificquestions are questions that can be answered by identifying verifiable and observable events that are thought to result in the situation or pattern of interest. Examples a) Why do some people read pornographic literature or view pornographic films? b) Is pornography morally wrong? c) Should productivity be valued over morality? Examples d) Why is one type of organization more productive than another? e) Are childhood relationships with parents related to adult sexual preferences? f) Is homosexuality contrary to God’s will?