Exam 4

Question 1

Percentage

Question 2

Probability

Question 3

Field of totality

Answer 3

The remaining probability

Question 4

Conjunctive probability

Answer 4

Is given by multiplying the probability of the first instance happening by the probability of the second instance occurring

Question 5

Disjunctive probability

Question 6

Deductivism

Answer 6

Is a method of deriving scientific laws through deductive methods from metaphysical truths about the nature of the world
- priori principles
Ex. Aristotle (384–322 BCE) deduced the shape and arrangement of the solar system from properties of the four primordial elements (fire, earth, air and water).

Question 7

The geometric method

Question 8

Inductivism

Answer 8

Method of generating scientific laws by inductive reasoning, from a large and representative sample of observations or data (counterexample can demonstrate the law false thus is replicated by experiment)
- posteriori premises
Ex.

Gregor Mendel (1822–1884) derived the ratio of dominant to recessive genes, by hybridizing pea plants and charting their traits over time

Ernst Weber (1795–1878) derived the threshold for ‘just-noticeable differences,’ with his experiments with human sensation and perception. From this, the Weber–Fechner law was derived.

Question 9

Scientific laws

Question 10

Observation report

Question 11

Hypothesis

Question 12

The problem of complete verification

Answer 12

In order to completely verify the claim that “all humans are mortal” we would need to surveying each and every human being on the planet. This would lead us toward a potentially endless process - as a consequence we usually reject the notion of verification for inductive arguments

Question 13

Principle of confirmation

Answer 13

(Aka Nicods criterion) a generalization is confirmed by any of its instances

Question 14

Correspondence principle

Answer 14

A prediction is true just in case it corresponds with some observable evidence

Question 15

Demarcation criteria

Answer 15

Separate hypothesis which are testable (and therefore scientific) from those which are not

Question 16

Verifiability/ falsifiability

Answer 16

Verifiability: relies on the possibility of confirmation as a criterion. Any non-analytic statement is verifiable just in case it is confirmable by some observable evidence

Falsifiability: relied on the possibility of disconfirmation as criterion. Any non-analytic statement is falsifiable just in case it is capable of being rejected based on some observable evidence

Question 17

The logic of confirmation

Answer 17

Hypothesis can never be proven

Deductive logical fallacy known as affirming the consequent

Question 18

The logic of refutation

Question 19

Confirmational holism

Answer 19

Rejects that we can ever isolate specific statements for testing. Rather we come to the world with a theory - a system of proposition- from which we test collectively

Question 20

Quine-duhem thesis

Answer 20

A scientific theory is under-determined relative to evidence

Question 21

Fruitfulness

Question 22

Scientific models