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--- public:rem4:rem4-16:philosophy_of_science_ii [2016/09/07 10:39] – created thorisson2
+++ public:rem4:rem4-16:philosophy_of_science_ii [2024/04/29 13:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-=== Concepts ===
+==== Concepts ====
 | Induction (ísl. aðleiðsla) | A generalization from a set of observations. \\ Generalization can be about a class of observed phenomena or about a particular unobserved phenomenon that is part of the class. \\ Considered a key to the advancement of scientific knowledge.   |
 | Scientific theory (ísl. vísindakenning) | “A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.”  |
-| Prediction, predictive powers (ísl. forspá, forsagnargildi)  | A good theory can explain and predict   |
+| Prediction, predictive powers (ísl. forspá, forsagnargildi)  | A good theory can explain and predict. (More on this below.)   |
 | The value and power of a scientific theory  | Measured by (a) its ability to explain, (b) its ability to to be withstand attempts to falsify it and (c) its ability to predict.  |
 | Scientific theories in the natural sciences  | Build on comparative experiments as primary method of investigation. Comparative experiments are attempts to falsification; they test the predicitive power of theories. Results are used to tune the theory.   |
 | Prediction and falsification: opposite ends of the same dimension  | A theory's strength can be measured at least in two ways, (a) by its power to predict and (b) by its ability to withstand attempts to falsification.  |
-| The role of "storytelling"  | The ability of individuals and groups to create "coherent stories" of how phenomena in the world are connected, and produce rigorous models that support the stories, is a necessary condition for scientific progress.  |
+| The role of "storytelling"  | The ability of individuals and groups to create coherent verifiable stories (explanations) of how phenomena in the world are connected, and produce rigorous models that support the stories, is a necessary condition for scientific progress.  |
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-===Induction is not Enough: Refutability of Scientific Theories===
+====Induction is not Enough: Refutability of Scientific Theories====
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-===The Importance of Creative Thought in the Progress of Science===
+====The Importance of Creative Thought in the Progress of Science====
 | Creativity in Science  | No good theory exists without the creative activity of a human! \\ Creativity is one of the main driving forces of science, because without new ideas, little or no progress could be made.   |
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-EOF
+====The Role of Science: To Explain the Universe====
+| Scientific Theories | Deepen our //understanding// of the universe.  |
+| A Scientific Theory | 1. Predicts. \\ 2. Supports goal-achievement. \\ 3. Explains. \\ 4. Models (re-create). \\ Any one of these can be partial.   |
+| Phenomenon | A phenomenon is any set of (partially or fully) observable/measurable variables in the world. An event, a thing, a system.  |
+| Full Understanding | Full/complete understanding of a phenomenon means we can predict any and all aspects of the phenomenon, we can achieve goals with respect to any and all attributes of the phenomenon, we can explain any and all aspects of the phenomenon, and we can model any and all aspects of the phenomenon -- our model is complete.   |
+| Complete Models | Allow us to create software simulations that approach a correct and complete representation of the phenomenon.   |
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+//EOF//