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--- public:t-701-rem4:philosophy_of_science_i [2007/09/09 20:33] – thorisson
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 =====Readings=====
-You are expected to have read and thoroughly learned the following texts:
+You are expected to have read and thoroughly learned the following texts and topics:
 ==Nature & Evolution of Science==
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   * Short overivew: http://nostalgia.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Popper
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 Philosophy of Science with humor: http://www.science.gb.net/
-Philosophy of Science hub:
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 | Information (Icel. upplýsingar) | Processed and prepared data -- "data with a purpose" |
 | Randomness | It is hypothesized in quantum physics that the universe may possibly be built on a truly random foundation, which means that some things are by their very nature unpredictable. Randomness in the aggregate, however, does seem to follow some predictable laws (c.f. the concept of "laws of probability"). |
-| Sampling | Sampling theory uses statistics to tell us (a) how many random measurements we need to make to make a prediction about a whole group of which they are members and (b) how reliable the results are given the particular methods of sampling and recorded variations in the data. (Notice: not the same as Nyquist's sampling theorem, which states that to capture a waveform accuractly in digital form you need to sample it at twice its frequency.) |
+| Sampling | Sampling theory uses statistics to tell us \\ (a) how many random measurements we need to make to make a prediction about a whole group of which they are members and \\ (b) how reliable the results are given the particular methods of sampling and recorded variations in the data. \\(Notice: not the same as Nyquist's sampling theorem, which states that to capture a waveform accuractly in digital form you need to sample it at twice its frequency.) |
 | Empiricism | All knowledge comes through the senses |
-| Deduction (Icel. afleiðsla) | "The facts speak for themsevles". In deduction it's impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false. "You've got the facts, all you have to do is put them together, draw a natural conclusion." Usually goes from the general to the particular. |
+| Deduction (Icel. afleiðsla) | "The facts speak for themsevles". \\ In deduction it's impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion to be false. "You've got the facts, all you have to do is put them together, draw a natural conclusion." \\ Usually goes from the general to the particular. |
-| Induction (Icel. aðleiðsla, tilleiðsla) | 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. |
+| Induction (Icel. aðleiðsla, tilleiðsla) | 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. |
-| Experiment | Typically refers to the most powerful method of science, the comparative experiment. There are other valid ways of studying the world, and they can be scientific if one realizes their limits. |
+| Experiment | Typically refers to the most powerful method of science, the comparative experiment. \\ There are other reliable ways of studying the world, and they can be scientific if one realizes their limits. |
 | Tautology (Icel. klifun, hringskýring)	| A 2-part sentence where the second part sounds like a logical conclusion of the first part but is simply a restatement of it. \\ Example: "All Icleanders love shopping — because it's fun!" |
 | The key to the advancement of scientific knowledge. | 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. |
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 ====Science: Historical Beginnings====
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 | Karl Popper \\ (1902 - 1994) | Philosopher. Most famous for his claim that theories can only be tested through the falsification of hypotheses. \\ Book: The Logic of Scientific Discovery (1959) |
 | Thomas Kuhn \\ (1922 - 1996) | Philosopher. Most famous for his theory of scientific change as intermittent challenges to the status quo. \\ Book: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962) |
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 ====Falsification of Hypotheses====
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 | Science builds theories | The theory - hypothesis distinction is a convenience. In reality this is a continuum. Which means that theories are in various forms of growth. |
 | Conclusion | We need a mixture of methods during the development of theories. |
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 ====Why We Need Statistics & When to Use it====
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 | When to use statistics | When trying to uncover relationships between phenomena using measurements of particular limited observations. \\ To have an idea of the generality of a few isolated results, we use statistics.  \\ Statistics is essential for any usability study, because it makes it easy to extrapolate results from experimental data with human subjects. \\ It is essential when we want to generalize from particular observations done with imprecise measuring devices and/or under condtitions where we cannot control all independent variables. |
 | Randomness | Key concept in statistics |
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 ====Why We Need Simulation and When to Use it====
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 | When to use simulation | When the complexity of that which is to be modeled/understood becomes so great that mathematical models are intractable and hypothesis falsification would take decades, centuries or millenia. |
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 ==== The key to the advancement of scientific knowledge====
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 | Interpreting results | Use rationality. Follow the data! ("Follow the duck, not the theory of the duck.") |
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