public:t-701-rem4:philosophy_of_science_i
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Readings
You are expected to have read and thoroughly learned the following texts:
Nature & Evolution of Science
Thomas Kuhnn
- Short overview: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9002756/Thomas-S-Kuhn
- Longer overview: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/
- Example of a paradigm shift a la Kuhn: http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-261582/plate-tectonics#936104.hook
Logical Positivism
- Short definition: http://nostalgia.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_positivism
Fayerabend
- Extended overview: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feyerabend/
Karl Popper
- Short overivew: http://nostalgia.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Popper
Additionally:
Use the Stanford Encylopedia of Philosophy and Google to further explore concepts and ideas that we encounter.
Philosophy of Science with humor: http://www.science.gb.net/
Philosophy of Science hub:
Overview
Concepts
| Theory (Icel. kenning) | “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.” | |
| Hypothesis (Icel. tilgáta) | A prediction about the relationship between a limited set of phenomena, as explained by a particular theory. | |
| Data (Icel. gögn) | Typically “raw numbers” – only contain low-level semantics | |
| 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.) | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
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