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| public:t-709-aies-2024:aies-2024:intro [2024/08/22 10:31] – thorisson | public:t-709-aies-2024:aies-2024:intro [2024/11/04 15:11] (current) – [The Scientific Method: Classical Description] thorisson |
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| | Identification, description and formalization of phenomenon | 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. | | | Identification, description and formalization of phenomenon | 1. Observation and description of a phenomenon or group of phenomena. | |
| | Hypothesis, null-hypothesis | 2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation. | | | Hypothesis, null-hypothesis | 2. Formulation of an hypothesis to explain the phenomena. In physics, the hypothesis often takes the form of a causal mechanism or a mathematical relation. | |
| | Creation of experimental setup to test hypothesis | 3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations. | | | Creation of **experimental setup** to test hypothesis | 3. Use of the hypothesis to predict the existence of other phenomena, or to predict quantitatively the results of new observations. | |
| | Performance of experiment, collection and analysis of results | 4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments. Basic assumption: Repeatability --- Can be repeated by anyone anywhere | | | **Perform experiment**, collect & analyze results | 4. Performance of experimental tests of the predictions by several independent experimenters and properly performed experiments. Basic assumption: Repeatability --- Can be repeated by anyone anywhere. | |
| | Repeatability requires formal framework | Detailed description, clear goals, clear (limited) scope, hence the formalities in their execution | | | Repeatability requires structured framework | Detailed description, clear goals, clear (limited) scope, hence the formalities in their execution. | |
| | Key idea: Comparsion | Baseline collected in same experimental setup without any other intervention by experimenter | | | Key idea: **Comparision** | Baseline collected in same experimental setup without any other intervention by experimenter | |
| | Key way of comparing | Experiments | | | Key way of comparing | Empirical experiments. | |
| | Bottom line | Scientific research is a //slow and expensive process//. \\ But it's the best one we've got (so far). \\ And it's completely worth it. | | | Bottom line | Scientific research is a //slow and expensive process//. \\ But it's the best one we've got (so far). \\ And it's completely worth it. | |
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| | What are the main types? | Deduction: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Hence, Socrates is mortal \\ Abduction: How did this come about? (Sherlock Holmes) \\ Induction: What is the general rule? \\ Analogy: 'This' is like 'that' (in 'this' way). | | | What are the main types? | Deduction: All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Hence, Socrates is mortal \\ Abduction: How did this come about? (Sherlock Holmes) \\ Induction: What is the general rule? \\ Analogy: 'This' is like 'that' (in 'this' way). | |
| | How is it used in science? | In empirical science to unearth the "rules of the universe". \\ In mathematics as axioms. \\ In philosophy as a way to construct arguments. \\ In computer science to write code. | | | How is it used in science? | In empirical science to unearth the "rules of the universe". \\ In mathematics as axioms. \\ In philosophy as a way to construct arguments. \\ In computer science to write code. | |
| | Why does it work? | Because the world's behavior is/seems rule-based. | | | Why does it work? | Because the world's behavior is/seems rule-based, some of which we have figured out to date (a very small part!). | |
| | | How is Reasoning relevant to AI & Ethics? | To manage rules requires reasoning. Intelligence makes models of the rules of the physical world. Therefore, reasoning is a necessary part of any intelligence. AI seeks to create machines that contain intelligence, thus AI must seek methods for machines that reason. Ethics can only make sense if it can be encoded in rules. | |
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