Scientific MethodScientific Method

Science philosophy involves itself in the Science philosophy involves itself in the methodology of science.methodology of science.

Empirical knowledgeEmpirical knowledge – by observation – by observation

- The Enlightenment (16-17- The Enlightenment (16-17thth C.) C.)

Empirical knowledgeEmpirical knowledge

When we see something many times in When we see something many times in many different circumstancesmany different circumstances

PredictionPrediction

PredictionPrediction

Inductive reasoningInductive reasoning (common sense) (common sense)

Moves from Moves from “I”“I” to the universal to the universal “all”“all”

ProblemProblem

There is no causal relationship between an There is no causal relationship between an event and timeevent and time

HumeHume

Science cannot prove anythingScience cannot prove anything

It can only disprove a ideaIt can only disprove a idea

FalsificationFalsification

FalsificationFalsification

We can never 100% prove something, only prove that it is falseWe can never 100% prove something, only prove that it is false

Falsification connects theory & experimentFalsification connects theory & experiment

Encourages objectivityEncourages objectivity

Freud’sFreud’s

Oedipal complexOedipal complex

Private research &Private research &

drug companiesdrug companies

Scientific RevolutionsScientific Revolutions

When observation doesn’t match theoryWhen observation doesn’t match theory

HumeHume

Normal or progressive scienceNormal or progressive science

KunhKunh (1922) (1922)

Paradigm shiftParadigm shift

scientists prefer to cling to old paradigms until a new one is readyscientists prefer to cling to old paradigms until a new one is ready e.g.e.g.

Copernican revolution Copernican revolution

Discovery of oxygenDiscovery of oxygen (phlogiston) (phlogiston)

Einstein's theories of relativityEinstein's theories of relativity

Don’t fit Kunh’s theory:Don’t fit Kunh’s theory:

Super conductorsSuper conductors

DNADNA

EinsteinEinstein

Science RealityScience Reality

Scientists hold paradigmsScientists hold paradigms

Won’t shift paradigms until there is enough Won’t shift paradigms until there is enough evidenceevidence

But who decides what’s But who decides what’s enough?enough?

Andreas Vesalius (1514)Andreas Vesalius (1514)

Galen Galen ((129 – 199)129 – 199)

VesaliusVesalius

De humani corporis fabricaDe humani corporis fabrica ( (On the Fabric On the Fabric of the Human Bodyof the Human Body). ).

Founder of modern human anatomy Founder of modern human anatomy

Mocked by other doctorsMocked by other doctors Hounded by the churchHounded by the church In 1564 Vesalius went on a pilgrimage to In 1564 Vesalius went on a pilgrimage to

the Holy Land – and died.the Holy Land – and died.

Scientific methodScientific method

Right?Right?

Wrong?Wrong?

Truth?Truth?

Einstein & NewtonEinstein & Newton

FalsificationFalsification

Einstein disproved Newton’s theoriesEinstein disproved Newton’s theories

AeroplanesAeroplanes

Right and WrongRight and Wrongare not scientific conceptsare not scientific concepts

Ideas are only limited by their contextIdeas are only limited by their context- - A flat earth is fine if you’re only walking to A flat earth is fine if you’re only walking to

the shopsthe shops

Is sciences goal to find the Is sciences goal to find the truth?truth?

- no, it is to be useful- no, it is to be useful

Dawkins vs GodDawkins vs GodScientific claims lend themselves to Scientific claims lend themselves to

experiment.experiment.

Thus some things are outside of scienceThus some things are outside of science

Love. Feelings. Faith. Taste. Fashion.Love. Feelings. Faith. Taste. Fashion.

Dawkins vs GodDawkins vs God

God created the earth.God created the earth.

God created the earth 5000 years ago.God created the earth 5000 years ago.