nature of science and science education
DESCRIPTION
The presentation was for science teachers at a conference. It introduces some philosophy of science showing the philosophical origins of key ideas. It raises the issue of truth in science teaching.TRANSCRIPT
The nature of science The nature of science & science education& science education
Our agendaOur agenda
What is science?What is science?Traditional answersTraditional answersMore recent answerMore recent answer
““Modern science” Modern science”
TruthTruth
RealityReality
NewtonNewton
Characteristics of modern scienceCharacteristics of modern science
Implications for science teachersImplications for science teachers
Astronomy AotearoaAstronomy AotearoaInterprets Interprets Science in the New Zealand CurriculumScience in the New Zealand Curriculum
Years 9 to 11Years 9 to 11
Three resourcesThree resourcesTextbookTextbookWorkbook Workbook WebsiteWebsite
What is science?What is science?
Traditional answersTraditional answers
Received viewReceived view- ““Positivist science”Positivist science”- TheoryTheory- Mirror of realityMirror of reality
AlternativesAlternatives- Human beingHuman being
- Without truthWithout truth- With truthWith truth
Traditional answersTraditional answers
Received viewReceived view- ““Positivist science”Positivist science”- TheoryTheory- Mirror of realityMirror of reality
AlternativesAlternatives- Human beingHuman being
- Without truth – constructivist accountsWithout truth – constructivist accounts- With truth – With truth – Hermeneutic philosophy of scienceHermeneutic philosophy of science
Hermeneutic philosophy of Hermeneutic philosophy of sciencescience
Galileo 1610Galileo 1610Newton 1666Newton 1666Kant 1782Kant 1782Heidegger 1927Heidegger 1927Heelan 1983Heelan 1983
HermeneuticsHermeneutics
= Interpretation= Interpretation
TraditionalTraditionalWritten textsWritten textsBible, law, literatureBible, law, literature
ModernModernVerbal, non-verbalVerbal, non-verbal
Modern scienceModern science
PhysicsPhysicsParadigm for scienceParadigm for sciencePhysicists’ viewPhysicists’ viewPhilosophers’ viewPhilosophers’ view
No progressionNo progressionGreek science Greek science Medieval scienceMedieval scienceModern scienceModern science
Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant
1724-18041724-1804
Prussian city of Prussian city of KönigsbergKönigsberg
Philosophy of modern Philosophy of modern sciencescience
Martin Heidegger1889-1976
South - West Germany
1909 Jesuit novice
1927 Being & Time
Heidegger is controversial
1933 Hitler, Chancellor of Germany
1933 Heidegger elected rector of Freiburg University & joins NSDAP
What is truth?What is truth?
HeideggerHeidegger
Two notionsTwo notions
CorrespondenceCorrespondence
DisclosureDisclosure
CorrespondenceCorrespondence
That is true / correct!That is true / correct!
Identity-similarity-equalityIdentity-similarity-equality
Truth in schoolTruth in schoolDisciplinesDisciplinesExamsExamsSchool rulesSchool rules
DisclosureDisclosureInsightInsight
Totality of a situationTotality of a situation
Moment of abidance – “in the truth”Moment of abidance – “in the truth”
I am hereI am here
This I knowThis I know
Newton &Newton &Modern OpticsModern Optics
Newton & truthNewton & truth
1664, 22 years-old
Trinity College
Questiones quædam Philosophiæ(Certain philosophical questions)
Amicus Plato amicus Aristoteles magis amica veritas(Plato and Aristotle are my friends, but truth is a better friend)
Newton’s opticsNewton’s optics
16661666Where is truth?Where is truth?
The correspondence theory of truth at work.
All human beings may access the truth.
Heidegger’s characteristics of Heidegger’s characteristics of modern sciencemodern science
Ground-planGround-planPre-logicPre-logicMeasurable “Objects”Measurable “Objects”PerceptionPerceptionExpect the RealExpect the Real
Force revelationsForce revelationsFollow proceduresFollow proceduresTruth as correspondenceTruth as correspondenceTruth as disclosures of the RealTruth as disclosures of the Real
InstitutionsInstitutionsConsequence of disclosuresConsequence of disclosures
Science EducationScience Education
AimAim
To have students experience disclosed truth
To teach students to force reality to reveal itself
MethodMethod
Preparations that involve truth as correspondence
Student demonstrations, not experiments
Science EducationScience Education
ConsequencesConsequences
Students genuinely abide with modern science (science is not a matter of culture or opinion)
All human beings stand equal in relation to their ability to experience disclosed truth
Science EducationScience Education
And societyAnd society
Disclosed truth in art, music, technology
Foil to modernity
Truth as correspondence dominates our age
Disclosed truth endures with humanity
Science EducationScience Education
Science teachersScience teachers
Enable students to experience truth
Essential for the perpetuation of science
Science EducationScience Education
Curriculum implicationsCurriculum implications
Curriculum structure
Identify truths of disclosure
Ensure experiences
Indicate why standards and procedures (truth as correspondence) are important
Science teaching with the Science teaching with the correspondence theory of correspondence theory of
truthtruth