Science and Pseudoscience

Explain the assumption of unity Describe some limitations of science What is the scientific method? How is the three tier model of critical thinking similar to the scientific method? Describe the first step in scientific method “identify a problem” Describe the second step “develop an initial hypoth...

Explain the assumption of unity Describe some limitations of science What is the scientific method? How is the three tier model of critical thinking similar to the scientific method? Describe the first step in scientific method “identify a problem” Describe the second step “develop an initial hypothesis” Describe fourth step “test hypothesis” Describe fifth step “evaluate hypothesis on the basis of testing or experimental results” Explain the criterion of “relevance to the problem under study” when evaluating a hypothesis Explain the criterion “predictive power” when evaluating a hypothesis Copernicus Materialism in science What is science? Science and religion? Scientific theory? Scientific Hypothesis? Explain the step in scientific method of gathering additional information to refine hypothesis Explain the idea of consistency with established theories Falsifiability Simplicity/Occam’s Razor Assumption of predictability Assumption of objectivity Pseudoscience Sir Francis Bacon Empiricism CH 12 Science and Pseudoscience Science: reasoning from observable facts to testable explanations for the facts Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer who discovered the heliocentric model of the solar system, which replaced the geocentric model. Francis Sir Bacon (1561-1626) created the steps in the scientific method Assumptions behind science: Empiricism: most human knowledge comes from the five senses and observation Objectivity: the belief that we can learn about the world as it really is and with no bias Materialism: the belief that everything in the universe is made out of physical matter, even including us, our consciousness Predictability: the universe is orderly and predictable, meaning that everything established cause/effect relations will be repeatable and will hold forever. E.g. the effect of gravity Unity: The view that there is an underlying unity to the universe such that everything can eventually be explained by a single set of scientific laws Limitations of science: Science assumes the external world exists, external meaning a world outside your mind, which cannot be absolutely proven Science can only study that which is observable 4 views about the relation of science to religion: Science takes priority over religion when they conflict Religion takes priority over science when they conflict Science and religion deal with different topics and therefore do not conflict Science and religion are compatible and complementary Steps of the scientific method 1. Identify a problem: one observes the world and identifies unexplained phenomena. 2. Develop an initial hypothesis: Create an educated scientific guess to explain the observed phenomena. 3. Gather additional information and refine the hypothesis: after initial data collection, one modifies the hypothesis if necessary. 4. Test the hypothesis: In a real-world or laboratory setting, one conducts an experiment that will either confirm or disconfirm the hypothesis 5. Evaluate the hypothesis then publish/ the study for others to replicate, if the test disconfirms the hypothesis then develop a new hypothesis and repeat the steps. Similarities between the critical thinking process and the scientific method CT: Experience, Interpretation, Analysis SM: Observation, Hypothesis, Test - Hypothesis: AN educated scientific guess to explain an observed phenomenon - Theory: A well-proven hypothesis. - Pseudoscience: A body of explanations that masquerades as science - Qualities of a good scientific theory - Relevance to the problem being studied - Consistency with other well-established theories: A good theory should fit in with and not contradict other well-proven theories. - Simplicity (Ockham’s Razor): The simpler of the two explanations is likelier to be true - Falsifiability: When a good scientific theory is able to be proven false - Predictive Power: A good scientific theory can be used to accurately predict future events.