LECTURE 10 Flashcards
What are the two biggest threats for the traditional scientific virtues?
The two most important threats to science addressed in chapter 13:
- The theory-ladenness of observation
- The underdetermination problem
Counter them with:
- Naturalism and pragmatism (chapters 11 and 12)
- A realist position (chapter 10)
- Two philosophical standards ( = norms) (chapter 13)
In other words: A minimal philosophy of science
1.2 Two philosophical standards for science
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What is meant by pluralism?
combining results from different disciplines
What is meant by unification?
(= unity, one science)
Unification should be understood as unification-as-
integration of all the levels of analysis and not as
reductionism
Because reductionism leads to scientism
In social science we need middle ground: unification-
as-integration of different scientific approaches, e.g.
Interdisciplinary research and restricted pluralism:
collaboration and cooperation between the empirical
sciences
Because unrestricted pluralism (= anything goes)
leads to scepticism
What is Reductionism?
Reductionism is the idea that complex phenomena can be explained by reducing them to their simpler, constituent parts. In the context of the empiricists, reductionism often refers to the belief that all scientific explanations can ultimately be reduced to basic sensory experiences or fundamental physical laws. The broader meaning of reductionism includes explaining social and biological phenomena through more basic physical or chemical processes.
What is meant by demystification? What part do the social sciences play in this? Can you think of an example related to communication science?
Demystification involves explaining phenomena in a way that removes mystery and supernatural explanations, often through scientific and rational inquiry. Social sciences play a crucial role in demystifying social behaviors, cultural practices, and societal structures. In communication science, an example might be the study of media effects on public opinion, which demystifies how media influences perceptions and behaviors.
What are the advantages of reductionism?
The advantages of reductionism include the ability to create clear, testable hypotheses, and to develop a more precise and detailed understanding of phenomena by examining their fundamental components. It can also lead to powerful explanatory frameworks and technological advances.
According to the authors, what is a major disadvantage of reductionism?
A major disadvantage of reductionism is that it can overlook the complexity and emergent properties of systems. By focusing too narrowly on individual components, it may miss the interactions and higher-level phenomena that cannot be fully explained by their parts alone.
Which school of thought is the most promising with regard to modern-day science of philosophy, according to the authors? Do you agree?
The authors likely point to integrative or pluralistic approaches as the most promising, combining elements of realism, constructivism, and pragmatism. These approaches acknowledge the complexity of scientific inquiry and the need for multiple perspectives. Whether you agree may depend on your own experiences and perspective on the balance between depth and breadth in scientific research.
What is meant by restricted pluralism, within-level and cross-level pluralism?
Restricted pluralism allows for a limited range of methodologies and perspectives, recognizing the need for diversity but within certain boundaries. Within-level pluralism refers to diversity within a single level of analysis (e.g., different psychological theories), while cross-level pluralism acknowledges the need for integrating insights across different levels (e.g., biological, psychological, and social).
What do the authors mean by “lifting the trade barriers: Integrating the social sciences”? Why do they believe that?
“Lifting the trade barriers” refers to breaking down disciplinary boundaries and encouraging collaboration and integration across different fields within the social sciences. The authors believe this will lead to richer, more comprehensive insights and solutions to complex social issues.
What does this mean for the position of communication science?
For communication science, this means embracing interdisciplinary research, integrating methods and theories from various fields (e.g., psychology, sociology, linguistics) to better understand communication phenomena and address societal challenges
What is science basically according to the authors?
Science is an explicit and empirical learning
process. Science gives us, humans, reliable empirical
information that we are dependent on for our
survival.
An empirically effective tool
- it carries a crucial claim
about the nature of human beings
- it is an explicit way of learning
Inquiry using the scientific method leads to knowledge
Knowledge is a justified true belief (book chapter 1 pp.24-25)
Knowledge is a belief justified by science and therefore true
It is objective (not subjective/personal), always provisional and valid
All other statements are opinions, beliefs, intuitions, myths, pseudo-science, superstition, thoughts, ideas, etc., but not knowledge
The scientific method
Scientific research is highly formalized,
systematic and controlled and under the
assumption than observations and
reasoning are error prone.
All the philosophizing from Plato to Quine
to Churchland is crystallized in the
scientific method and the scientific attitude
We need the scientific method to make
sure that our attempts to explain how the
world works results in valid knowledge;
other forms of belief fixation do not work
A special method of inquiry
Grand research hypothesis: “there is a world
independent of our personal and idiosyncratic (=
private, peculiar, unique) thoughts, beliefs, and
hypotheses, we act scientifically in our inquiry,
looking for patterns in a world of phenomena”
(book, p. 607)
Standard practice: empirical-analytical approach
Evidence-based approach to theory and data:
-natural sciences try to find laws
-social sciences more about probabilities
How can we meet the human need for reliable knowledge?
The human need for reliable knowledge can be met through the application of the scientific method, critical thinking, and the continual refinement of theories and models based on empirical evidence.
Are humans naturally inclined to control their behavior? If not what should we do according to the authors?
Humans are not naturally inclined to control their behavior in a scientific sense; instead, they often rely on intuition and heuristics. The authors suggest fostering education and environments that promote scientific literacy and critical thinking to better align human behavior with scientific principles.
