Scientific Method

Science: Further Info Science cannot provide certain (100%) proof – just the ‘best’ working theories based on the evidence that we have

Science: Further Info Science cannot provide certain (100%) proof – just the ‘best’ working theories based on the evidence that we have It is a trial and error process

Science: Further Info Science cannot provide certain (100%) proof – just the ‘best’ working theories based on the evidence that we have It is a trial and error process Science allows us to systematically examine the processes behind the natural world, and make predictions and laws regarding these.

Science: Further Info Science cannot provide certain (100%) proof – just the ‘best’ working theories based on the evidence that we have It is a trial and error process Science allows us to systematically examine the processes behind the natural world, and make predictions and laws regarding these. Science is a method used to understand the world, not a mountain of ‘facts’

The Scientific Method 1.Observation 2.Hypothesis 3.Experiment 4.Deduction 5.Verification Science is a method used to understand the world, not a mountain of ‘facts’

Lesson Aim To consider the strengths and weakness of the scientific method of understanding the world.

The Strengths What are they?

1. Strengths: Facts Science is based on facts!

1. Strengths: Facts Science is based on facts! These facts are based on empirical evidence

1. Strengths: Facts Science is based on facts! These facts are based on empirical evidence provable or verifiable by experience or experiment

1. Strengths: Facts Science is based on facts! These facts are based on empirical evidence Nothing is accepted as truth unless it is verified confirmed as accurate or true by acceptable evidence

1. Strengths: Facts Everything needs to be supported with evidence Reason, experiment and observation are the most reliable ways of discovering truth.

2. Strengths: Objective Scientists are objective and impartial

Jargon Buster Objective: Not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice. An unbiased view based on the facts. Subjective: The opposite of objective. Placing excessive emphasis on one's own attitudes and opinions

2. Strengths: Objective Being objective allows us to pursue scientific truth from a neutral standpoint. A good scientist will not be influenced by personal opinions, past experiences or future expectations

3. Strengths: Scrutiny In Science, everything is scrutinized. Everything must be supported with sound evidence and reasoning Scientists are willing to allow their theories to be tested and challenged by others – in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.

The God Delusion, extract from p (p45 Belief and Science)‏

4. Science: Progress Science provides us with a way of understanding our world and predicting future events – with this we can confidently make progress in the journey of discovery and innovation of new technology

Science: Because it's the Best! For these reasons many people believe that Science is in the best position to deal with the questions of our origins in this world

Science is the Best! For these reasons many people believe that Science is in the best position to deal with the questions of our origins in this world What do you think?

Science: The Strengths Science is based on verified facts Science is objective and impartial Science scrutinizes all theories to test out evidence and reasoning to check for truth. Science gives us progress and makes the world a better place

The first to speak in court sounds right - until the cross-examination begins.

Science: The Strengths Science is based on verified facts Science is objective and impartial Science scrutinizes all theories to test out evidence and reasoning to check for truth. Science gives us progress and makes the world a better place How might you pick flaws in the scientific approach to understanding the world?

The Weaknesses

1. Weaknesses: Provisional As new data becomes available to us, new explanations arise. This means science is only provisional – it is constantly an unfinished business.

1. Weaknesses: Provisional In 1666 Isaac Newton proposed his theory of gravitation. This was one of the greatest intellectual feats of all time. The theory explained all the observed facts, and made predictions that were later tested and found to be correct within the accuracy of the instruments being used. As far as anyone could see, Newton's theory was ``the Truth''

1. Weaknesses: Provisional During the nineteenth century, more accurate instruments were used to test Newton's theory, these observations uncovered some inaccuracies. Albert Einstein proposed his theories of Relativity, which explained the newly observed facts and made more predictions. Those predictions have now been tested and found to be correct (within the accuracy of the instruments being used). As far as anyone can see, Einstein's theory is ``the Truth''.

Sir Isaac Newton In 1666, proposed his theory of gravity and, with the instruments available at the time, this was found to the truth Albert Einstein In the 19 th Century, Einstein found some inaccuracies in Newton’s theory. Einstein proposed his theory of relativity, which was found to be the truth

1. Weaknesses: Provisional The point is that even the best of theories have, time and again, been shown to be incomplete In the strict sense this means that the theory was not 'true' after all – it was just the closest we could get with the tools that we had

1. Weaknesses: Provisional So the question is: How can we ever be sure that Scientists have achieved a true understanding?

2. Weaknesses: Fallible Fallible: Capable of making an error

2. Weaknesses: Fallible Our senses can deceive us. When we look at the sky the stars we see may have ceased to exist long ago.

2. Weaknesses: Fallible Our senses can deceive us. When we look at the sky the stars we see may have ceased to exist long ago. Our senses can limit us in how much we understand of the world

3. Deductive and Inductive Reasoning The inductive method is a type of reasoning that involves moving from a set of specific facts to a general conclusion. Deductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions that must be true because they are based on broader true statements

3. Deductive Reasoning All men are mortal Socrates is a man Therefore Socrates is mortal

3. Deductive Reasoning All teachers have degrees Mr Harrison is a teacher Therefore Mr Harrison has a degree

3. Deductive Reasoning Deductive reasoning involves drawing conclusions that must be true because they are based on broader true statements

3. Weaknesses Deductive Reasoning doesn't add new knowledge – it processes the facts to draw a conclusion. The conclusions will not be accurate if the facts are not accurate!

3. Weaknesses All teachers are boring Mr Harrison is a teacher Therefore Mr Harrison is boring

3. Inductive Reasoning The inductive method is a type of reasoning that involves moving from a set of specific facts to a general conclusion.

3. Weaknesses Inductive Reasoning involves vague generalisations, which can be uncertain

3. Weaknesses There are 20 balls in a pot, a mix of black and white. To estimate their respective numbers you draw a sample of 4 balls. You find that you get 3 black and 1 white. Using this information, an inductive generalisation would be that there are 15 black and 5 white balls in the pot.

Inductive Reasoning Example The inductive method is a type of reasoning that involves moving from a set of specific facts to a general conclusion. One hundred snooker balls were struck with a cue, all of them moved. Therefore all snooker balls will move when struck with a cue

3. Weaknesses Therefore inductive reasoning is not always accurate.

4. Weaknesses: Scientism Scientism is the view that all Science is free from error and capable of answering all questions and solving all problems. But is this really the case? Can science answer all questions?? Is it the only true way to acquire knowledge? Aren't some topics beyond the scope of scientific inquiry?

4. Weaknesses: Scientism Would most people agree that issues of morality, philosophy, religion and love are outwith scientific enquiry?

5. Weaknesses: Solipsism Solipsism This is the theory that the external world and other minds cannot be known and might not exist.... What if all this is just an illusion anyway?

6. Weaknesses: Objectivity Objectivity Is there really such a thing as an impartial scientist? Surely even scientists carry their prejudices – even if they don't realise it Some may get paid to ‘prove’ facts

7. Weaknesses Best Guess Scientists are human and make mistakes. Sometimes science boils down to our best guess!

8. And Finally.... Unobservable Religious people would say that there is more to the world than meets the eye. There are certain things that are unobservable. Science just won't accept this idea!

The Weaknesses 1. Provisional: Theories get replaced 2. Fallible: Our senses get deceived 3. Deductive and Inductive reasoning are imperfect 4. Scientism: Science is not able to best answer all of life's questions (as it claims)‏ 5. Objectivity: Humans are often not impartial 6. Solipsism: How can we be sure of anything? 7. Human Error: Scientists can and do make mistakes 8. Maybe some phenomena is simply unobservable to us

Empirical: provable or verifiable by experience or experiment Verification: confirmed as accurate or true by acceptable evidence Objective: Not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice. An unbiased view based on the facts. Subjective: The opposite of objective. Placing excessive emphasis on one's own attitudes and opinions Fallible: Capable of making an error

Purple Book Read and complete p55

Extension Task Belief and Science Book