Definitions
- science : the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the
structure + behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and
experiments
- biology : the science of life
- SCientific inquiry : the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and
propose explanations based on the evidence derives from work
2 approaches
- Description based
- Hypothesis based
Scientific method
Inductive reasoning
- Making a generalization often based on numerous specific observation
- Particular - general
- Ex: observation - oranges are sweet. Generalization : all oranges are sweet
Deductive reasoning
- Involves starting a hypothesis and drawing conclusions (after experimentation or
observation)
- General - particular
● All scientific inquiry starts with one or more observations. Subsequently the scientific
process must be implemented
● Scientific hypothesis must be verifiable, reputable, reproducible
● From hypothesis you can make predictions
● Prediction must be testable and give a clear result
● Hypothesis can be falsified or not falsified
● w e can never prove that a hypothesis is scientific truth
● If hypothesis has survived multiple falsification attempts = theory
● Observation - hypothesis - prediction - tests(hypothesis refuted or non refuted) if refuted
make new hypothesis
● Skepticism, realism, rationality
● Methodological , materialism
Contract between science and knowledge
Initial skepticism on facts
- We ask honest questions on facts and hypotheses (tangible real things) and we always
retest what has been found
Realism
- The world is older and exists independently from my perception of it (the realism of ideas
does not have priority over the real world)
Rationality
, - Logic: fremonstrations from a scientist must be result of coherent steps
- Parsimony : methodological principle which states that acceptable theories are
hypothetical most economical assumptions
Methodological materialism
- All that is experimentally accessible in the real world is material or has a material origin
Transformism in antiquity
Anaximander 610-546 bce
- First philosopher to write his thoughts
- Animals are born from the sea, by solar heat on water. They were first wrapped in spiny
bark… as they aged they migrated on the mainland . When the bark birst l, they survived
briefly in their new lifestyle
- This human originated from fishes that attempted to invade the mainland
- Water is the central element of the universe
Empedocles 428-423bce
- All structure of the world (matter) are made of four elements: water earth air fire
- These elements are simple, eternal and unalterable
- Two major forces interact constantly on these elements; love (attraction or harmony) and
strife or hate (repulsion or discord)
Democritus 460 360 bce
- The most “scientific” of the greek philosophers
- Two realities: atoms and emptiness
- Matter: group of atoms in movement. An atom cannot be created or destroyed (atomic
theory)
- There is an intrinsic property a force of atoms that creates shapes
- Humans and animals are born directly from dirt (spontaneous generation)
Conclusion
1. Acts of creation are not due to gods but rather due to the innovative power of matter
2. The origin of all things is not teleological (namely w an ultimate goal) but is the result of
chance
Classical thinkers
Socrates
- W the classical tradition the materialistic approach of past philosophers fives wat to more
abstract q and to the contemplation of the soul
- The important q are not materialistic but rather linked to a search and an understansinf
of the concepts of beauty kindness justice sanity
- Arguments about logical ethical and political q are more interesting than the search for
truth
- The asnwers are not found in nature but within the self
Plato 427-347
- science : the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the
structure + behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and
experiments
- biology : the science of life
- SCientific inquiry : the diverse ways in which scientists study the natural world and
propose explanations based on the evidence derives from work
2 approaches
- Description based
- Hypothesis based
Scientific method
Inductive reasoning
- Making a generalization often based on numerous specific observation
- Particular - general
- Ex: observation - oranges are sweet. Generalization : all oranges are sweet
Deductive reasoning
- Involves starting a hypothesis and drawing conclusions (after experimentation or
observation)
- General - particular
● All scientific inquiry starts with one or more observations. Subsequently the scientific
process must be implemented
● Scientific hypothesis must be verifiable, reputable, reproducible
● From hypothesis you can make predictions
● Prediction must be testable and give a clear result
● Hypothesis can be falsified or not falsified
● w e can never prove that a hypothesis is scientific truth
● If hypothesis has survived multiple falsification attempts = theory
● Observation - hypothesis - prediction - tests(hypothesis refuted or non refuted) if refuted
make new hypothesis
● Skepticism, realism, rationality
● Methodological , materialism
Contract between science and knowledge
Initial skepticism on facts
- We ask honest questions on facts and hypotheses (tangible real things) and we always
retest what has been found
Realism
- The world is older and exists independently from my perception of it (the realism of ideas
does not have priority over the real world)
Rationality
, - Logic: fremonstrations from a scientist must be result of coherent steps
- Parsimony : methodological principle which states that acceptable theories are
hypothetical most economical assumptions
Methodological materialism
- All that is experimentally accessible in the real world is material or has a material origin
Transformism in antiquity
Anaximander 610-546 bce
- First philosopher to write his thoughts
- Animals are born from the sea, by solar heat on water. They were first wrapped in spiny
bark… as they aged they migrated on the mainland . When the bark birst l, they survived
briefly in their new lifestyle
- This human originated from fishes that attempted to invade the mainland
- Water is the central element of the universe
Empedocles 428-423bce
- All structure of the world (matter) are made of four elements: water earth air fire
- These elements are simple, eternal and unalterable
- Two major forces interact constantly on these elements; love (attraction or harmony) and
strife or hate (repulsion or discord)
Democritus 460 360 bce
- The most “scientific” of the greek philosophers
- Two realities: atoms and emptiness
- Matter: group of atoms in movement. An atom cannot be created or destroyed (atomic
theory)
- There is an intrinsic property a force of atoms that creates shapes
- Humans and animals are born directly from dirt (spontaneous generation)
Conclusion
1. Acts of creation are not due to gods but rather due to the innovative power of matter
2. The origin of all things is not teleological (namely w an ultimate goal) but is the result of
chance
Classical thinkers
Socrates
- W the classical tradition the materialistic approach of past philosophers fives wat to more
abstract q and to the contemplation of the soul
- The important q are not materialistic but rather linked to a search and an understansinf
of the concepts of beauty kindness justice sanity
- Arguments about logical ethical and political q are more interesting than the search for
truth
- The asnwers are not found in nature but within the self
Plato 427-347
