Scientific and Philosophical Knowledge Methods
Methods of Scientific and Philosophical Knowledge
Methods of Scientific Knowledge
Method of Formal Sciences: Formal sciences are not concerned with facts of experience, but with the form of demonstrative reasoning. The two most common methods in science are:
- Induction: An argument that leads to a general conclusion.
- Deduction: A reasoning process that allows us to derive a particular understanding from a general statement.
The ideal formal methodology of science is to construct an axiomatic system. For that, the system must have the following elements: axioms, rules of formation and transformation, and theorems.
Method of Natural Sciences: Natural sciences mainly use deductive reasoning. This approach is called the hypothetical-deductive method, as it contains moments of both induction and deduction.
Hypothetical-Deductive Method
This method is typical of natural sciences. The steps of the hypothetical-deductive method are:
- Observation and testing of a problem.
- Elaboration of a hypothesis.
- Formulation of one or more mathematical hypotheses and study of the consequences.
- Verification by falsification.
- The hypothesis is accepted as a law and becomes generally valid.
Method of Social Sciences: The purpose of the social sciences is social reality, which involves a relationship between the subject and object of knowledge. This gives social sciences the following characteristics:
- Lower predictive power than in the natural sciences, involving the freedom of the subject.
- Lower capacity for generalization.
- Partiality due to value judgments.
These features create a problem, so there are two main approaches in social studies:
- Empirical-analytic: Pursues the unity of science and seeks to explain social phenomena.
- Hermeneutics: Tries to understand the phenomena from within.
Social science techniques can be:
- Quantitative: Tests, questionnaires, etc.
- Qualitative: Interviews, focus groups, etc.
Methods of Philosophical Knowledge
Empirical Rational Method: Our senses provide us with reality data. Processing and understanding occur through intuition and reasoning, as we go beyond appearances. We have two sources of knowledge, the senses and understanding, and through them, we access two levels: the sensitive and the intelligible. This method is called “rational” because the physical experience begins and ends in the working of the mind. It aims to know what is common, universal, and necessary for all human beings.
Empirical Method: This method separates two sources of knowledge: experience and reason. Reason is the appropriate source for developing the formal sciences, and the statements of these sciences are “truths of reason,” which do not increase our knowledge. Non-formal sciences consist of statements whose truth can only be seen through experience. These sciences provide “truths of fact,” which increase our knowledge.
Rationalist Method: This method prioritizes reason over the senses. It tells us that reason is the source and criterion of knowledge.
Transcendental Method: This method is not about *what* is the source of our knowledge, but about justifying it. The transcendental method is the bridge between rationalism and empiricism. To account for all human rational knowledge, it is necessary to try to answer three questions that represent the interests of reason:
- What can I know? (Asks about my ability to know)
- What should I do? (A question to guide my actions)
- What may I hope for? (Wonders about the future of those who do good)
Analytical-Linguistic Method: This method analyzes why language is imprecise. In this method, the truth of its content is not important, but the correctness of its use. It follows two paths:
- Philosophy is to categorize thoughts.
- Analysis of language use.
Hermeneutic Method: The task of hermeneutics is the art of interpreting and understanding the meaning of texts. In this method, we must go beyond explaining the causes of human actions. Hermeneutics proposes two main things:
- Show that the method of modern science is insufficient to understand history.
- Try to understand the question: How is understanding possible?
The answer to these questions can be directed in two ways:
- Non-normative Hermeneutics: Philosophy has to conform to discover the elements that make hermeneutic comprehension.
- Legislative Hermeneutics: Seeks to develop criteria from which to start.