NATURE OF SCIENCE.pdf - presentation containing the nature of science

presentation containing the nature of science

1. What then is the Nature of
Science?
Scientific claims are objective because the
theories and laws used to make such
claims are based on empirical observation.
The testing of hypotheses is controlled by
a logical established scientific method.
Science progresses linearly with the
ultimate goal of finding a comprehensive
theory.

2. Science demands and relies on empirical
evidence.
For example the Higgs Boson
“Our” universe is just one part of the
multiverse.
There is a wraith-like particle (the Higgs
Boson) that constantly deceives us about
the nature of matter.

3. Higgs Boson
Why do particles like photons not have
mass? The Higgs boson endows particles
with mass. Many of the massive particles are
fermions which couple to Higgs. But this
could not be proved as the Higgs was not
found to decay directly into any of them.
On 4
th
July 2012, ATLAS and CMS
experiments announced that they had each
observed a new particle in the mass region
around 126 GeV. This particle is consistent
with the Higgs boson.
The 2013 Nobel prize in Physics was
awarded jointly to Francois Englertand Peter
W. Higgs for the theoretical discovery of a
mechanism that contributes to our
understanding of the origin of subatomic
particles.
Francois Englert
Peter W. Higgs

4. In spite of commonalities there is no
single step-by-step scientific method.
Scientific knowledge is tentative yet
durable.
Laws and theories are related but
distinct kinds of scientific knowledge.
Science is a highly creative endeavor.

5. Science has a subjective element.
Science is a complex social activity.
Science and technology impact each other,
but they are not the same.
Science cannot provide complete answers
to all questions.

6. What are the goals of science?
1.
Description

Identification and classification of entities, events
& patterns.
2.
Prediction

Use observed regularities to infer unobserved
phenomenon.
3.
Explanation

Explain the causal relations between described
and predicted phenomenon.
4.
Stewardship(
applied science/engineering,
medicine, pharmacy
)

Apply knowledge to bring about desired outcome.

7. What is scientific explanation?
1.
Cause and effect –to explain a
phenomenon is to say what caused it

E.g. What is the causeof acidrain?
2.
Covering laws –show that phenomenon to
be explained is ‘covered’ by some general
laws

E.g. Faraday’s Law of electrolysis:Q = it

General law & particular facts → explanation

Every reliable prediction is a potential
explanation

8. Example: Climate Change
What has caused global warming?

9. TheScientificMethod
involvesaseriesofsteps
thatareusedtoinvestigate
anaturaloccurrence.

10. Scientific Method;
Can be divided into two primary
categories:
1.Empirical science and
2. Historical science

11. Empirical science entails a systematic
approach to epistemology that uses
observable, testable, repeatable and
falsifiable experimentation to understand how
nature commonly behaves. It finds its
implementation in such disciplines as
molecular biology, physics, chemistry, rocket
science etc.
Historical science involves the interpretation
of evidence and the deduction of past
occurrences which is normally based upon an
underlying supportive paradigm.

12. Empirical is derived from the
Greek word ‘empeirikos’
meaning experienced/tested
Theories should be based on our
observations of the world rather
than on intuition, faith, reasoning
or appeals to authority.