1. Phil 3318: Philosophy of Science Observation & Auxiliary Hypotheses

2. Observation

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4. 2-4-6 Demo

5. Wash U

6. Popper The motivation: any law can be verified! If creation science is correct, then we’d expect to see each creature perfectly adapted to the environment in which it lives. We see each creature perfectly adapted to the environment in which it lives Therefore, creationism is correct. Law Confirming Instance

7. Popper If Marx’s theory of history is correct, then the bourgeoisie will grow in power until only the very wealthy will be capable of running for elected office. Only the very, very wealthy are now capable of running for office. Therefore, Marx’s theory of history is correct. Law Confirming Instance

8. Popper If Freud’s theory is correct, then people will develop fetishes for things they played with in childhood – like teddy bears, computer games, etc. In recent years, we’ve seen an explosion of fetishes for childish things. Therefore, Freud’s theory is correct. Law Confirming Instance

9. Popper If Freud’s theory is correct, then if you fail to see its truth, you’re repressing or in denial. You fail to see the truth of Freud’s theory. Therefore, you’re repressing or in denial. Therefore, Freud’s theory is correct. Law Confirming Instance

10. Popper If Marx’s is correct, then if you fail to see its truth, you either lack class-consciousness or you’re a counter-revolutionary. You fail to see the truth of Marx’s theory. Therefore, you lack class-consciousness or you’re a counter-revolutionary. Therefore, Marx’s theory is correct. Law Confirming Instance

11. Popper If creation science is correct, then if you fail to see its truth, you must be an atheist. You fail to see the truth of creationism. Therefore, you are an atheist. Therefore, creation science is correct. Law Confirming Instance

12. Popper: True Science Real science makes bold claims that can be falsified (in principle): If Einstein’s theory is correct, then light from a distant star will bend if it passes near an object with great gravity like the sun (or black holes). Light does bend as it passes by the sun. Therefore, Einstein’s theory is correct. Law Confirming Instance

13. Popper: True Science No significantly better, except that it might be the case that : If Einstein’s theory is correct, then light from a distant star will bend if it passes near an object with great gravity like the sun (or black holes). Light does not bend as it passes by the sun. Therefore, Einstein’s theory is not correct. Law Confirming Instance

14. An Example: light in a prism Where does the color come from? –In the white light itself, and the prism uncovers that fact –The prism adds the colors by corrupting the light.

15. Design an experiment to determine the correct theory Note: the angle of the light coming from the prism and the color of that light are always linked. SO: Either: –The colors and their respective angles are the white light itself, and the prism uncovers that fact –The prism adds the colors and the angles by corrupting the light.

16. Newton’s Experimentum crucis

17. Newton’s Experimentum Crucis “And I saw by variation of those places that the light, tending to that end of the image toward which the refraction of the first prism was made, did in the second prism suffer a refraction considerably greater than the light tending to the other end. And so the true cause of the length of that image was detected to be no other than that light consists of rays differently refrangible, which, without any respect to a difference in their incidence were, according to their degrees of refrangibility, transmitted to divers parts of the wall.”

18. Newton’s Argument 1.Either the colors and their respective angles are in the light itself, and the prism uncovers this fact, or the prism adds the colors and the angles by corrupting the pure white light. 2.If the former, then light passing through a second prism would (a) not change the color (for a color once revealed can’t be revealed again) BUT it would (b) double the angle on the second pass. 3.If the later, the light passing through a second prism would (a) change the color (for the prism adds color to whatever light it touches) AND it would (b) double the angle on the second pass. 4.Passing light through 2 prisms produces the same color as passing light through 1 prism (as well as doubles the angle). 5.Therefore, the colors and their angles are in the light itself

19. The complexities of Verification (and falsification) Why did Newton suppose that the second prism must add color to the light? Why can’t I (I.e. if I’m Hooke) simply revise my thesis thus: –The prism adds the colors and the angles by corrupting the light and light, once corrupted by color, cannot be corrupted by color again. –Then, I predict that light passing through the second prism would: (a) stay the same color and (b) double the angle.