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Philosophy 1230 > WEEK 9 - Scientific Reasoning > Flashcards

WEEK 9 - Scientific Reasoning Flashcards

1
Q

what are theories ?

A

these are the hypotheses, laws and facts about the empirical world

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2
Q

what is data ?

A

the information that is gathered from observations or experiments. We use data to test our theories. They might also inspire new directions in research

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3
Q

what are the four steps of the hypothetical-deductive method ?

A
  1. Identify the hypothesis to be tested.
  2. Generate predictions from the hypothesis.
  3. Use experiments to check whether predictions are correct.
  4. If the predictions are correct, then the hypothesis is confirmed. If not, then the hypothesis is disconfirmed.
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4
Q

what is scientific reasoning ?

A

the reasoning used to explain, predict, and control empirical phenomena in a rational manner

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5
Q

what three things are related in regards to scientific reasoning ?

A
  • Design experiments
  • Test hypotheses
  • Interpret data
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6
Q

what is the applicability of scientific reasoning ?

A
  • Scientific reasoning is used by scientists
  • But many principles of scientific reasoning are used in everyday life, too.
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7
Q

what does “the world” mean?

A

scientific reasoning aims to understand some aspect of the world around us

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8
Q

“A paleontologist might aim to understand whether some dinosaurs had feathers”

would be an example of what ?

A

the world

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9
Q

what are theories ?

A

are statements of laws, hypotheses, and other putative facts about the world

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10
Q

what des explanations and predictions mean ?

A

theories explain certain aspects of the world and make predictions

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11
Q

predictions are for what period of time ?

A

future

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12
Q

retroactions are for what period of time ?

A

retrodiction

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13
Q

what does data (evidence) mean ?

A
  • is information gather from observations or experiments
  • data is used to test existing theories or point outwards new theories
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14
Q

what does the HD method stand for?

A

the hypothetic-deductive method

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15
Q

what is the HD method ?

A

a very important scientific method of testing theories and hypotheses

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16
Q

what are the four steps of the HD method ?

A

STEP #1 - identify the hypothesis to be tested
↓
STEP #2 - generate predictions from hypothesis
↓
STEP #3 - use experiments to check whether the predictions are correct
↓
STEP #4 - if the predictions are correct, the hypothesis is confirmed. Otherwise, the hypothesis is disconfirmed.

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17
Q

what is step 1 of the HD method ?

A

identify the hypothesis to be tested

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18
Q

what is step 2 of the HD method ?

A

generate predictions from hypothesis

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19
Q

what is step 3 of the HD method ?

A

use experiments to check whether the predictions are correct

20
Q

what is step 4 of the HD method ?

A

if the predictions are correct, the hypothesis is confirmed. Otherwise, the hypothesis is disconfirmed

21
Q

suppose your battery-powered camera won’t turn on. You wonder whether the batteries are dead

is an example of applying what ?

A

the HD method

22
Q

what is step one of the example : suppose your battery-powered camera won’t turn on. You wonder whether the batteries are dead

A

Hypothesis : the batteries are dead

23
Q

what is step 2 of the example : suppose your battery-powered camera won’t turn on. You wonder whether the batteries are dead

A

Prediction : if we change the batteries, the camera will work again

24
Q

what is step 3 of the example : suppose your battery-powered camera won’t turn on. You wonder whether the batteries are dead

A

experiment : change the batteries

25
Q

what is step 4 of the example : suppose your battery-powered camera won’t turn on. You wonder whether the batteries are dead

A

if the camera works, the hypothesis is confirmed. If it does not work, the hypothesis is disconfirmed

26
Q

the HD method can only confirm or disconfirm hypotheses that are ______

A

capable of being tested

27
Q

what is a confirmation ?

A

The HD method can confirm a hypothesis but cannot conclusively establish it

28
Q

what is a disconfirmation ?

A

The HD method can disconfirm a hypothesis but cannot conclusively show that it is false

29
Q

what are axillary assumptions ?

A

Hypothesis + Auxiliary Assumptions = Predictions

30
Q

how many considerations of theory choice are there ?

A

6

31
Q

what are the 6 considerations of theory choice?

A
  1. Consistency with the observations we are trying to explain
  2. Predicting power
  3. Mechanism
  4. Fruitfulness
  5. Simplicity
  6. Coherence
32
Q

what does consistency with the observation we are trying to explain mean ?

A

which theories are consistent with out observations

33
Q

what does predicting power mean ?

A

do the theories make many interesting predictions that are later confirmed

34
Q

what does mechanism mean ?

A
  • Do the theories reveal underlying causal mechanisms?
  • This helps explain the relevant aspect of nature
  • It also helps u make more predictions
35
Q

what does fruitfulness mean ?

A
  • do the theories make surprising or unexpected predictions, which are later confirmed?
  • do they provide new explanations for other phenomena?
36
Q

what does simplicity mean ?

A
  • how simple are the theories?
  • a simpler theory that has fewer assumptions and posits fewer entities than a more complex theory
37
Q

what are two reasons to like simpler theories ?

A
  1. It’s easier to fit a more complex theory to the data in a contrived way, so a more complex theory is more likely to be false than a simpler theory that also fits the data
  2. you might assume the the world is relatively simple
38
Q

what is Occam’s razor ?

A

if you have two theories that explain the same sata equally well, prefer the simplest

39
Q

what are the two types of coherence ?

A
  1. internal consistency
  2. consistency with other knowledge
40
Q

what is scientific research created by ?

A

biased and fallible human being s

41
Q

when is an experiment replicated ?

A

when a different lah repeats it and gets the same results

42
Q

what is peer review ?

A

Peer review is the process of reviewing scientific work by other scientists before it is published

43
Q

is peer review good or bad ?

A

good, work that has been peer reviewed is more trustworthy than work that has not

44
Q

when is scientific reasoning used ?

A

in science and every day life

45
Q

what is an example of a common scientific method

A

the hypothetical-deductive method

Philosophy 1230 (12 decks)

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