Science and Communication

Question 1

What is positivism

Answer 1

Positivism is the view that the only way to obtain knowledge of the world is by means of sense perception and introspection and the method of the empirical sciences.

Question 2

What is science?

Answer 2

SCIENCE IS A WAY OF THINKING RATHER THAN BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

IT IS GUIDED BY PRINCIPLES RATHER THAN BY RULES

Question 3

What has been the thinking since Kuhn?

Answer 3

Since Kuhn – there are no simple rules for science. Our understanding – instead of a body of facts, it is a process. And not single way of doing it, but more there are different principles we rely upon that come in in different areas of the scientific process.

Question 4

What is Comte’s three stages in the shift of knowledge?

Answer 4

Theological - To explain anomalies
& identify causes, the
human mind points to
interventions of
supernatural agents

Metaphysical - To explain anomalies
& identify causes, the
human mind rejects
supernatural agents &
instead points to
abstract entities

Positive - The human mind
rejects speculation &
limits itself to that
which can be
confirmed – the laws
governing phenomena

Question 5

What did Popper propose

Answer 5

Popper proposed the principle of falsification.
Scientists should try to falsify their hypotheses
rather than to confirm them.

Question 6

What did Kuhn argue?

Answer 6

Thomas Kuhn argued that science is
characterised by revolutions in which
the relations between theory and
observations that were previously
thought to be valid are rejected

Question 7

What are the stages of the shift?

Answer 7

Normal science
Anomoly
Crisis
Change in world view
Pre-paradigm phase
New paradigm phase

Question 8

Why do we need effective communication?

Answer 8

Effective communication conveys
the process of science as much as
the outcome.

Like science, good communication is
guided by principles rather than
rules.