Science and ideology Flashcards
What is science?
A method, it is a way of collecting information/data to build knowledge.
OBJECTIVE
Free from bias/opinion.
How is science objective?
We would claim science is objective because it is based on evidence, this is unlike religion which is based on belief/faith.
RELIABLE
The same result will appear with the same findings every time (the boiling point of water)
TESTABLE
Science claims have to be measurable/testable, unlike religion.
FALSIFICATION
This is the idea that scientific claims should try to be proven false, if they can’t it must be a good theory. It should be possible to try to prove it wrong.
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
The evidence of science can be empirically measured through our senses , this is how we know things are real , unlike religion which is based on personal feelings.
PARADIGM
This is a way of looking at the world, a knowledge system which is shared.
How does science work as a paradigm?
All scientists believe the same theories, use the same methods and they speak in the same terminology.
Scientists believe in the paradigm and work within it. The paradigm will only shift/change if there is enough data to falsify it.
THEORY CONSTRUCTION
Through paradigms and falsification and the scientific method we construct big theory’s e.g evolution
UNIVERSAL LAWS
Scientific principles e.g. the laws of physics are the same all over the world. This is different to religion which is culturally relative.
OPEN/CLOSED BELIEF SYSTEM
Some claim science is an open belief system, open to challenge, critism and change based on new evidence. However, others claim it is not and instead it is controlled by a small, elite rich white old men who don’t like challenge or change.
SYSTEMATIC
Science is a method that follows a set system. Part of this is the experimental method.
VALIDITY
A truthful/good measure of something (using a thermometer to measure temperature
VARIABLES
ALL the things that we are measuring/ controlling/ changing within our research/ experiment.
