Chapter 1 (engels):Introduction, Acquiring Knowledge, and the Scientific Method Flashcards
Method of tenacity of Methoden van vasthoudendheid
Holding to ideas and beliefs bc they have been accepted as facts or superstition
- Belief perseverance= habits that leads us to continue to believe something: ex. Opposites attracts
- statements been repeated over and over and now seen as facts: ex. commercials
Problems(2) of Method of tenacity
o Information not always accurate
o No method to correct those ideas
Method of intuition
Information accepted on the base of a hunch or instinct “it feels right”
–> fastest way for answers (for some people)
–> Used when no information or supporting data
–> Used for ethical decisions and moral questions
–> Based on subtle cues (ex. you know friend is sad btw she acts)
Probleem (1) methoden van intuïtie
No mechanism for separating accurate from inaccurate
Method of authority
Person relies on information or answers from an expert in the subject area
-> Often good starting point, quick and easy but not always sufficient
Problemen Method of authority
- Not always accurate information
—>Experts have a bias for pov or orientation - Answers received can be subjective, personal opinions
- Assuming expertise in one area can be generalized to other topics
- People accept statements without question
trust in authority -> Method of Faith
Method of faith
People accept the word of an authority with complete trust in the authority figure
- variant of the Method of Authority
- ex. children absolute fate in parents, or religion
- problem: no mechanism to test accuracy of information, no verification
How to increase confidence in information received by authority
o Evaluate source of authority
o Evaluate the information itself
o Second opinion from another authority
Rational method
- seeking answers using logical reasoning
- Use Premise Statements
- Use of logic to reach a conclusion or get an answer
- Answers must satisfy the standards established by the rules of logic
- Rational Method does not run around making observations or to gather information
- Argument= set of premise statements logically combined to yield a conclusion
=> is a practice of employing reason as a source of knowledge
Limitations of the rational method
- Conclusion not necessarily true unless both premise statements are true
–> Ex. dog attack causes fear for dogs –> not necessarily for everyone - People are not good at logical reasoning
–> people have difficulty of judging validity of arguments -> they make mistakes - People try to think a problem trough before trying different solutions
–> Considering doing something instead of doing it
Premise statements
a set of known facts/assumptions
Empirical method (empiricism)
- Attempts to answer questions by direct observations or personal experience
o Product of empirical viewpoint is philosophy
o Easy and direct way to find answers
Limitations of the empirical method
- Common to misperceive or misinterpret the world
- Perceptions can be altered by prior knowledge, feelings, beliefs, or expectations
- Time consuming and sometimes dangerous
- Faster and easier to think a problem trough instead of jumping in a Trial-Error approach, not always safe and faster
The Scientific Method
- Approach to acquire knowledge that involves formulating specific questions and systematically finding answers
- Combining several methods –> avoid pitfalls
- Developed system for asking and answering questions so that the answers are accurate
5 steps of the scientific method
- Observe behavior or other phenomena
- Form a Tentative answer or explanation (Hypothesis)
- Use your Hypothesis to generate a testable prediction
- Evaluate the prediction by making systematic, planned observations
- Use the observations to support, refute, or refine the original hypothesis (final step)
