Unit 1: Introduction

Question 1

What are empirical methods based on?

Answer 1

Experience.

Question 2

What are non-empirical methods?

Answer 2

Ways of knowing that are not based on eperience.

Question 3

What are 4 examples of non-empirical ways of knowing?

Answer 3

Authority, logic, intuition, common sense.

Question 4

What is authority?

Answer 4

A non-empirical method where you believe something just because a trusted person or institution told you.

Question 5

What is logic?

Answer 5

A non-empirical method where you draw conclusions based on facts.

Question 6

What is intuition?

Answer 6

Spontaneous, instinctive sense, not based on reasoned steps.

Question 7

What is common sense?

Answer 7

Practical intelligence shared by a large group of people.

Question 8

What is science?

Answer 8

An empirical way of knowing based on objective observation.

Question 9

What is the goal of science?

Answer 9

To understand the world by looking for causes.

Question 10

What is the concept of realism in science?

Answer 10

One of the 5 assumptions of science - the assumption that the world is real.

Question 11

What is rationality?

Answer 11

One of the 5 working assumptions of science - that the world is understandable using rational, logical thought.

Question 12

What is regularity?

Answer 12

One of the 5 working assumptions of science - that the world follows laws consistently.

Question 13

What is discoverability?

Answer 13

One of the 5 working assumptions of science - that it’s possible to find out how the world works.

Question 14

What is determinism?

Answer 14

One of the 5 working assumptions of science - that every event has a cause (causability).

Question 15

What are the 7 characteristics of science?

Answer 15

1. Empiricism
2. Objectivity
3. Self-correcting
4. Progressive
5. Tentative
6. Parsimonious
7. Concerned with theory

Question 16

What is the concept of parsimony in science?

Answer 16

The simplest explanation is the one used.

Question 17

What are the 5 working assumptions of science?

Answer 17

1. Realism
2. The world is understandable using rational, logical thought
3. Regularity
4. Discoverability
5. Determinism/causability

Question 18

What are the 3 criteria for establishing a cause-effect relationship?

Answer 18

1. Temporal precedence - cause has to come before the event
2. Co-variation - when cause happens, effect happens
3. Elimination of alternative explanations

Question 19

How do common sense and science differ?

Answer 19

Common sense is absent of theory. Only has practical implications and therefore cannot predict new knowledge.

Question 20

What are two limitations of common sense?

Answer 20

1. Varies across time and space - common sense to one person may not be to another.
2. It can’t predict what will and won’t work - no understanding of its limitations.

Question 21

When is logic not a good way of knowing?

Answer 21

When it assumes something to be true that is not, then a statement can be logically valid but still not true.