But first…

Scientific Worldview  There are physical causes for events  “Physical causes” refers to interactions of matter and energy governed by physical law  The present is the key to the past (and future)

“Understanding Science” UCMP

Two Types of Reasoning  Inductive reasoning Evidence  Conclusions  Deductive reasoning Conclusions  Evidence

A Couple General Guidelines Parsimony – Occam’s Razor 14th-century English logician, theologian and friar The principle was familiar long before [4] [4] The words attributed to Occam are "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity" (entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem) These actual words are not to be found in his extant works. [5] [5] The saying is also phrased as pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate ("plurality should not be posited without necessity") [6] [6] To quote Isaac Newton, "We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances. Therefore, to the same natural effects we must, so far as possible, assign the same causes." [7] [7] From : wikipedia, “Occam’s Razor”

A Couple General Guidelines Parsimony – Occam’s Razor When deciding between two equally plausible explanations, science tends to prefer the simpler of the two. In this case, “simple” refers to using pre-existing ideas, entities, and formulae whenever possible.

A Couple General Guidelines “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" Popularized by Carl Sagan ( ) An explanation that is less parsimonious will require stronger evidence— evidence that can withstand rigorous testing with the possibility of both confirmation and refutation. E.g., To accept the idea that an alien race has traveled to Earth, we’d need to have evidence that they exist, evidence regarding the means by which they travel, evidence regarding their world or origin...all of which would need to be open to testing in ways that would allow refutation.

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Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Solar System. It lies about 4.37 light-years in distance, or about 41.5 trillion kilometres, 25.8 trillion miles But then you have to get home...

UFOs 

Which game are you playing?

Pseudoscience  A set of beliefs or practices that can easily be mistakenly regarded as being based on a scientific worldview.  Astrology  Cryptozoology  UFOs  Ghosts  Psychic phenomena  Crystal energy “I never would have believed it if I hadn’t see it.” “I never would have seen it if I hadn’t believed it.”

Pseudoscience—Some questions  What is the proposed cause/conclusion?  How is the conclusion being supported?  What is the evidence?  What would it take to disprove the conclusion?  Can others check the evidence, the conclusions, the methods?  Is the conclusion based on something we’ve seen before?  Is there a simpler explanation?

Science and Technology ScienceTechnology

STEM ScienceTechnologyEngineeringMathematics

Consider Telescopes

 Chronology of early astronomy,mechanics and spaceflight Chronology of early astronomy,mechanics and spaceflight  www- istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Stimelin.htm

Models  A representation of a real thing or idea.  Not the same as an example. Real Thing (Target)Model Attribute

Models  A representation of a real thing or idea.  Not the same as an example. PlanetPhysical Model Shape Size Color Position from “Sun” Atmosphere Surface Features Shape Size Color Position from “Sun”Attribute

Models  A representation of a real thing or idea.  Not the same as an example. ForceModel (Formula) Relationship between mass and acceleration Vector Pos or Neg Physical Real Factors Affect F=ma Vector Pos or Neg Numerical Usually Ideal