Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Very limited. Distorts what science really is. Works reasonably well for day-to-day analysis.
Article itself:
C Each journal has basic guidelines as to content and structure.
C Where it is being submitted from.
C Number of authors and their names.
C When received and when published.
C Abstract- A mature science has articles incomprehensible to non practitioners.
C Invariably, there is previous research in the field discussed. Relevant articles are cited and the
stage set for why authors carried out present work.
C Theory and results completely intertwined. Fundamentals of a science agreed to by its
members. Most science is involved in using basic theories to extend knowledge and fill in
blanks of fundamentals.
C Basic theory provides a general framework. Dissension of details is common.
C Summary of most important conclusions.
IV. Basic Research: Discovering without any application in mind.
Development: Application of research to a problem
Technology: Results of development.
Fundamentals Application
Electromagnetic Theory → Radio, TV
Thermodynamics
Without one, the other is seriously hampered. Unfortunately, you never know what line of basic
research will be fruitful. There is also an annoying lag between basic research and its eventual
application
Paradigm: A set of fundamental theories of a given science. E.g. chemistry: atomic theory, quantum
mechanics
The simple idea of how science works says we deduce predictions from theory which is then checked.
If the theory predicts something which turns out to be wrong, then part or all of the theory is wrong.
E.g. World will end 4/8/01.
Theory thus must:
C Make predictions
C Have observable consequences
C Be limited in scope so as not to include any possibility
A theory must also be falsifiable. This means a theory is not necessarily false, it just means it can be
tested.
Logic Blunder! Streets could be wet for other reasons: melting snow, street cleaning, broken water
pipe.
Galileo was ultimately brought before the Inquisition not for heresy, but for calling a sun centered
system as proved using a logic which denies absolute proof.
Thus, the paradigm can be falsified but a particular theory can never be proven absolutely true.
Galileo’s reasoning produced interesting consequences which gives this method great power.
C If the earth is just a planet, then other planets might be similar to earth.
C Heliocentric system much simpler than Ptolemy’s system.
C Satellites of Jupiter are like a miniature solar system.
Notice that items 1 and 3 could have lead to falsification
A theory gains credibility when it makes successful predictions. E.g. Air is like an ocean. Prediction:
Air pressure should decrease with altitude.
Theories presented in textbooks tend to be unfalsifiable. E.g. Apple breaks off branch but does not fall.
Any behavior of the apple can be explained by suitable application of laws of motion.
A theory cannot be tested individually. Theories must be tested in bundles. E.g. Nature of bacteria
being observed using electron microscope.
Another e.g. Dinosaurs wiped out by meteor- existence of isotopes, operation of mass spectrometer
(electronics, magnetism), geologic stratification, radioactive decay.
Rather large bundles must be tested. If results don’t match prediction, then a member of the bundle has
problems.
Different bundles can be tested. Science is heavily intermeshed. The fact that testing different bundles
of theories yields consistent results gives these theories a high confidence rating.
Any single theory can be wretched from context and proven to be unscientific.
Newtonian mechanics is a unified theory. It consists of a small set of problem-solving strategies which
can be used in a wide variety of problems:
C Motion of celestial bodies
C Motion of projectiles
C Motion of tides
C Motion of pendulum oscillations
Another example: Quantum Mechanics. It’s problem-solving strategies can be applied to:
C Emission Spectra (Bands within a line, line intensity, line bandwidth)
C Magnetism
C Color of Solids
C Electrical Conduction
C Photography
A science (paradigm) is a unified whole, not a patchwork of ad hoc assumptions.
Fecundity (fertility): Successful science often generates new sciences. E.g. evolution
C taxonomic classification
C immunology
C population genetics
C molecular biology
C social behavior
The basic method normally taught in book is a part of science, but it is only a snippet out of a larger
whole.