Science and Common Sense

How Do We Come to Know the World? Our personal experience Our personal experience Our collective experience, consensus Our collective experience, consensus How do we know? Subjective Objective

How Do We Come to Know the World? The philosophy of knowing The philosophy of knowing An approach to knowing An approach to knowing How do we know?

Science and Common Sense Science often refutes common sense. Science often refutes common sense. However, both science and common sense knowing work in similar ways. However, both science and common sense knowing work in similar ways. How do we know?

The Doubt/Trust Ratio Both in science and common sense, we trust the vast amount of our experience and only doubt a small part at a time. Both in science and common sense, we trust the vast amount of our experience and only doubt a small part at a time. How much doubt-to-trust? How much doubt-to-trust? 1/99! 1/99! How do we know?

Common Sense and Science Unless we decide not to, we usually observe inaccurately. Unless we decide not to, we usually observe inaccurately. We consciously decide what and how to observe. We consciously decide what and how to observe. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science We usually generalize from only a few cases. We usually generalize from only a few cases. We explicitly sample for generalizing. We explicitly sample for generalizing. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science We observe selectively to see what we’re looking for. We observe selectively to see what we’re looking for. We consciously decide what and how to observe. We consciously decide what and how to observe. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science We make things up to fill in the gaps. We make things up to fill in the gaps. We base conclusions only on the evidence. We base conclusions only on the evidence. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science We believe in luck (streaks and slumps). We believe in luck (streaks and slumps). We have to document and back up conclusions about performance. We have to document and back up conclusions about performance. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science We get personally and emotionally involved. We get personally and emotionally involved. We have to respect scientific norms regardless of opinions. We have to respect scientific norms regardless of opinions. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science We form our views prematurely with little or no revision. We form our views prematurely with little or no revision. We can constantly revise views. We can constantly revise views. Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science Some things we just can’t know; they’re spiritual or mystical. Some things we just can’t know; they’re spiritual or mystical. We can’t rule out any area as unknowable (for example, ESP). We can’t rule out any area as unknowable (for example, ESP). Common sense: Science: How do we know?

Common Sense and Science More conscious than most common sense knowing More conscious than most common sense knowing More careful than most common sense knowing More careful than most common sense knowing Science is How do we know?