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Understanding Empirical Science Methods

The document discusses the definition and methodology of science, including that science is empirical and driven by curiosity. It examines whether belief in God is unscientific and if adherence to science necessitates atheism. It also discusses the risks and tools of the scientific method.

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paulwilson420
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11 views2 pages

Understanding Empirical Science Methods

The document discusses the definition and methodology of science, including that science is empirical and driven by curiosity. It examines whether belief in God is unscientific and if adherence to science necessitates atheism. It also discusses the risks and tools of the scientific method.

Uploaded by

paulwilson420
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Empirical – sensory, practical.

Etymology – study of the word

Science is not just theoretical it is empirical.


Science is driven by curiosity, when we saw the puzzle, we naturally wanted to solve it.

Is belief in God unscientific?

Does adherence to science necessitates atheism?

What is science?
Science - A method of learning about the physical universe by applying the principles of the scientific
method

 Making empirical observations


Can you observe it
Can you count it
Can you repeat it
 Proposing hypothesis to explain the observations
 Testing those hypotheses in valid and reliable ways
 Communicating those findings to the scientific community and the public
 Using the findings for some sort of purpose

Sociology – Attempts to describe and predict the way in which societies behave.
History – Attempts to explain the reasons why certain events happened.
Religious studies – Attempts to describe belief. Practice, meaning of spiritual realities.
Mathematics – Attempts to quantify, predict, order…

What are the risks in using the scientific method to gain knowledge?

 Ability to control variables.


 Simplicity of gathering evidence.
 Certainty that all relevant evidence has been gathered.
 The human element: subjectivity, relationship of the investigator to the investigation, bias,
cheating agendas, politics.

Good scientific investigations can do these things

Quantifying uncertainty

An infinite level of precision is impossible (and indeed meaningless)


The most important tool that science has is to be able to find an answer and tell us the boundaries of
where that answer lies.
Science is a methodology
The more reliable evidence that can be gathered to support an argument, the more probably the
argument is.
Is scientific methodology inductive, deductive (or both)?

Least probable Most probable

Unknown Observed Science / Proof?

Comparing scientific arguments

We must look at the evidence on which they are based

The reliability of a scientific argument depends on the ability to control the scientific process

Scientific probability

Biology is (soft) Physics is (hard)

Biology more variables so less probably

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