Part 1: Methodolgy Flashcards
Methodology:
The systematic assessment and justification of method choice.
Typical goals of science:
Prediction, explanation and design.
Conventional view of methodology:
Choices between different methods are justified by what is seen as “common practice” in the field.
The best-results view of methodology:
Choices between different methods should be determined based on what produces desired results.
The epistemic tool view of methodology:
Choices between different methods are determined on what one has the most reason to believe will satisfy ones epistemic goals.
Justification:
Reasons for believing a certain proposition to be true.
Instrumental reasoning:
Providing justification to fulfil a clearly stated goal.
Proposition:
The information expressed in a statement or a claim. “Snow is white” and “Snö är vitt” contains the same proposition, but are two different statements.
Prediction:
Knowing that an event will occur at a future time.
Explanation:
Knowing what causes produced an event.
Design:
Being able to design an artefact that satisfies certain functions.
The classical definition of knowledge:
True, justified belief.
Lexical definition:
A definition that intends to capture common usage of a term.
Stipulative definition:
A definition made for a specific purpose, in a specific context.
Belief:
A state of mind where a person considers a proposition to be true.