Key Concepts in Science and Epistemology
Verification Criteria
Any base or means for judging the possibility of an empirical test of a scientific hypothesis. There are two classes: weak criterion and strong criterion.
Statement
A verbal expression of a proposition. In grammar, it is a descriptive or declarative sentence.
Proposition
Thinking that is expressed by a descriptive sentence or statement. Its essential feature is to be true or false. Another definition: a thought that affirms or denies something and has a real value.
Universal Statement
Every proposition is applicable to all individuals of a class.
Probabilistic Statements
Any proposition in terms of probability describing the production of a phenomenon.
Hypothesis
A statement established as a possible explanation of a particular scientific problem.
Explanation
The reduction of a phenomenon to its causes or conditions that make it possible. There are several types: deductive, probabilistic, functional, and genetic.
Comprehension
Capturing an event in its uniqueness, which aims to discover its meaning.
Prediction
The prediction of the recurrence of a phenomenon based on knowledge of the circumstances that determine it.
Contrast
The testing of a hypothesis by contrasting it with the facts.
Verification
Contrasting that seeks to establish the truth of a hypothesis based on the agreement between the facts deduced from a hypothesis and observed facts in the world, trying to be explained by that hypothesis.
Falsification
Contrasting that seeks to refute a hypothesis with facts that are opposed to it.
Law
A statement that expresses an invariant relationship between any facts or phenomena of a certain type.
Paradigm
A set of theories and procedures that, in a historic moment, explains our version of the real world.
Experience
Ordinary knowledge of things.
Science
A systematic set of theories about a particular field of objects, which can be both ideal entities such as facts or phenomena.
Factual Empirical Science
Knowledge of the natural and social reality which is obtained by setting specific research methods that require hypothetical assumptions needing experimental verification.
Formal Science
Knowledge of ideal entities which are obtained by the axiomatic method.
Technique
A set of procedures for obtaining and processing products.
Technology
A set of knowledge and science-based procedures controlled by scientific methods aimed at the production, processing, or control of things and natural or social processes.
Epistemology
The science of science, a branch of philosophy that develops a theory about science.
Scientific Fact
A phenomenon explained and justified by a scientific theory.
Phenomenon
An event that happens in the natural order of things.
Scientific Problem
A natural event shown as inexplicable within the framework of existing theory.
Scientific Method
An approach that is science: 1. Discover the explanation of the problems. 2. Justify that explanation.
Induction
A procedure based on the observation of events that establishes general principles (laws) by generalization.
Deduction
Reasoning that allows one to derive one or more propositions given another proposition, which is a logical consequence necessary.
Theory
The unification of a set of facts, hypotheses, and laws on a particular area of reality.