Chapter two: Philosophy of science

Question 1

What are the Fundamental assumptions

in science?

Answer 1

The existence of a true (material) reality
Reality is ordered
The order of reality can be discovered
The discovered order is never final

Question 2

Reification of a construct

Answer 2

tendency to treat constructs as if they are part of reality.

Question 3

A theory must be:

Answer 3

Must be falsifiable and parsimonious

Question 4

What is the modus ponens?

Answer 4

Confirmation of an antecedent: Valid argument.

Question 5

What is the confirmation of the consequent, is it valid? Explain.

Answer 5

Daily life example

1. IF rain THEN wet streets
2. wet streets
3. rain

invalid argument, because that the streets are wet doesnt necessarily mean that it has rained.

Question 6

Denial of the antecedent:

Answer 6

invalid argument. if the antecedent is not (hasnt rained) doesnt necessarily mean that the streets are not wet, they could get wet in adifferent manner.

Question 7

Modus tollens!

Answer 7

Valid argument, also known as the denial of the consequent. if the consequent is not there, it has necessarily not rained.

Question 8

What is falsification as a logic argument?

Answer 8

If h than p
not p
not h
denial of the consequent, modus tollens

Question 9

Karl Popper (1902 – 1994) propagated the scientific method discussed so far
what did he say?

Answer 9

Normative approach: how science should be done

Gradual increase of knowledge over time

Question 10

According to Thomas Kuhn (1922 – 1996) the history of science tells a different story

Answer 10

Historic approach: what scientists actually do

Development of science is very capricious– new approaches not necessarily better than older ones