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SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

What is Science?

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Meaning of Science

Today, science usually refer to a

particular subject/area of natural
that is studied by people

Physics, Chemistry, Biology

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Meaning of Science
(contd)

From the Latin "scientia" =

knowledge
Oxford Dictionaries:

The intellectual and practical activity

encompassing the systematic study
of the structure and behaviour of the
physical and natural world through
observation and experiment
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Meaning of Science
(contd)

Cambridge Dictionaries:

(knowledge from) the systematic

study of the structure and behaviour
of the physical world, especially by
watching, measuring and doing
experiments, and the development of
theories to describe the results of
these activities
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Science in Chinese

In Chinese, Science can be

separated as two words:
And these words can be explained
separately
Shuowen Jiezi ( )

The first Chinese dictionary with

character analysis
Written by Xu Shen (Han Dynasty)
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Science in Chinese
(contd)

: (Measure)
: (Understand/Realize)
Two words come together become
knowledge of measure
Although the words usually mean
the public examination ( )
in the past
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Theoretical Science

Mathematics
Physics
Metaphysics

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Practical Science

Ethics
Politics
Economics
Social Science

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

Poetical Science

Study of poetry and other fine arts

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Theoretical / Practical?

Sometimes Science can be both

theoretical and practical
E.g. Physics

Theoretical: theories/assumptions
Practical: experiments/applications

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What is Science?
Science as Method

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Karl Poppers Ideas

Falsification and testing of

scientific theories

Distinguishing between science

and pseudo-science (fake-science)
or science from non-science

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Poppers concerns

Result (not Poppers concern) vs Prediction

(Poppers concern)
Not concerned with truth or falsity
Rather, concerned with the theories that
make predictions

In other words, the scientific method

(not the result)
Example:
Pythagoras' Theorem: c2 = a2 + b2
Who knows how to prove Pythagoras Theorem?
But we can predict value of c if value of a
and b are given
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Karl Popper
(1902-1994)

Context from which

Popper developed his
position

Einsteins theory of
relativity
Marxs theory of history
Freuds psychoanalysis
Adlers individual
psychology
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Karl Popper (1902-1994)

Which theories are scientific?

How to determine the scientific

nature of theories?

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Karl Popper (contd)

Some theories are always verified,

regardless of the observation
Not Science
Weakness of these theories: they explain
everything based on the outcome!

Ad hoc explanations reduce scientific

status of theory

For example, in astrology, it is a typical

soothsayers trick to predict things so vaguely that
the predictions can hardly fail

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Karl Popper (contd)

Theories need to make risky

predictions, i.e. an event that
would have refuted the theory

The results of risky predictions are

unknown

Example: Predict how a child will

turn out growing up in a bad
environment
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Poppers Beliefs (1/4)

Popper believed that science has a

special method: falsification
Scientists (and by extension, the
scientific theories they hold) should make
bold, risky hypotheses
(conjectures/guesses) ( )
Scientists try and refute ( ) these
hypotheses
There is continual revolution in science
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Conjectures
and
Refutations

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Poppers Beliefs contd

(2/4)

Attempts to refute a theory are sometimes

known as crucial experiments ( because
there is a lot at stake/a lot of risks in these
experiments and you dont know the
results)
Popper: If a theory is falsified, it should be
abandoned, and a new one proposed in its
place; if, however, the prediction is correct,
the theory is reinforced good science
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Example: Earth Shape (Square

Round Sphere)

Idea of
idea of
Idea of
idea of
Idea of
by ???

Square is wrong replaced by

Round
Round not exactly replaced by
Sphere
Sphere is wrong replaced

???

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Poppers Beliefs contd

(3/4)

Therefore . . .
Science is a form of trial and error

Scientists are on an endless mountain of

truth, always refuting their theories for better
ones, but never reaching summit of that
mountain
Can go higher and higher, but can never
reach the top
Science becomes so good because of this
characteristic of continual revolution
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Poppers Beliefs contd

(4/4)

For falsificationists, science is a set of

temporary hypotheses which try to
accurately describe something
(which they then try to refute/falsify)
What matters is how hypotheses are
tested
Pseudo-science can not stand up to
the falsification method because
they do not make risky predictions
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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According to Popper . . .

If a theory:

makes risky predictions

the theory is considered to be
science

does not make risky predictions

It is considered to be non-science or
pseudo-science
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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If a theory is falsified:

then it should be abandoned in favor

of a new, better theory

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments (1/7)

Problem 1 Testability

People do not agree what counts as a

test of falsifiability
What is testable is constrained by
physical limits

E.g. Sophistication of equipments and tools

Testability only a principle

Tremendous amount of science doesnt

produce predictive (or testable)
statements

E.g. classification of organisms in biology

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments (2/7)

Testability is only a principle

Some statements are falsifiable in

principle/theory, but not in practice

i.e. It will rain here in 1 million years

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments (3/7)

Problem 2 Social Side of Science

If you look historically, falsifications

exist but are ignored by scientists

Even the best theories sometimes explain

outcomes incompletely

Why are falsifications ignored?

One answer: controversy ( , ,

)

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Example: Diamond Energy

Water ( )

Diamond Energy Water System based on advanced Energy Converter

technology
Energy Conversion Technology helps
break water molecule clusters into
smaller clusters for easier absorption

Hailed as a breakthrough health therapy

http://www.diamond.com.hk/diamond_energy_water.htm

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Diamond Energy Water (

) (contd)

Does it promote good health?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZFInTHhMKs
http://forum.vegsochk.org/viewtopic.php?p=57180

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments contd (4/7)

Problem 2 contd

Controversy is a social side to science

that Popper misses

Theories guide are activities

Observations are connected to theory
Theories are connected to groups
Groups are connected to careers,
(disciplinary) interests, beliefs and aims

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments contd (5/7)

Sometimes controversies in science

are internal (limited to scientists),
other times they become external
(public)
Science is a human endeavor and is
therefore mixed in with politics,
interests and aspirations

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments contd (6/7)

Problem 3 Theory-Ladenness of
Observation (theory affects observations)

Popper assumes that observation and theory

are distinct
Observations constitute theory
Theory-ladenness of observation: when you
make an observation, theory goes into it

E.g. If according to one theory, a certain kind of cell

should be triangular, scientists who support such
theory would see a cell which could either be
triangular of square as triangular.
SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Problems with Poppers

Arguments contd (7/7)

To Summarize:

Scientific theories are not made in a

vacuum; they are made by humans
who have personal aims, interests,
and goals
Popper provides an
idealist view of
Technolog
Society
science
y
Society

Scienc
e

Technolog
y

Scienc
e

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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Poppers Influence

Big step forward from previous

theories of science

Science is more than just truth and falsity

Scientific theories have to be

predictable, testable

Method more important than the result

Testing becomes key activity of science

(or the scientific method)

Proposing an idealized view of science

SOSC 1130 Fall 2016 Notes 02

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