RSC2601 Full Summary

STUDY UNIT 1 STRATEGIES OF DISCOVERY Science is a process of enquiry. It uses logic, observation and theory. Research means to look at again or to make a careful and planned study. Scientific research means we systematically examine and think about a question. Exponential realityi – The result of direct personal experience. Agreement realityi – What we accept asreal because we have been told itsreal and everyone agrees, mostly through research and science. 1.2 SOURCES OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 1.2.1 TRADITION We accept what other people know and tell us. We do not find out how the knowledge was obtained because something appears to be understood and obvious. Tradition can be positive or negative. 1.2.2 AUTHORITY Authority is accepting something as true because of the status of the person who discovered the truth. This may be reliable knowledge or we can overestimate the expertise of persons in authority. 1.2.3 MYSTICISM AND RELIGION Knowledge is found in sacred texts or supernatural forces which are inaccessible to ordinary people. Authority appeals to irrational feelings. One looks at faith instead of evidence. 1.2.4 COMMON SENSE Common sense is ordinary reasoning which is valuable in everyday life to reach decisions and solve daily problems, and also helps communication. However, it contains illogical reasoning and does not consider how ideas relate to each other. 1.2.5 MEDIA MYTH