Understanding Hypothetico-Deductive & Cartesian Methods
Understanding the Hypothetico-Deductive Method
The hypothetico-deductive method is a description of the scientific method.
Traditionally, from the time of Roger Bacon, it was considered that science was based on the observation of facts and that repeated observation of comparable phenomena led to the extraction, by induction, of general laws that govern these phenomena.
Later, Karl Popper rejected the possibility of deriving general laws from induction. He argued that scientific hypotheses are, in fact, general laws, and the inductive method is used to interpolate, based on these general assumptions, forecasts of individual phenomena.
Central to this conception of the scientific method is the falsifiability of scientific theories, i.e., the possibility of a theory being refuted by experiment. In the hypothetico-deductive method, scientific theories can never be proven true, but at most, remain uncontested.
Example of the Hypothetico-Deductive Method
- Detecting a problem: Astronomers Adams and Le Verrier discovered in the last century that the planet Uranus’ orbit was not predicted by Newton’s laws.
- Formulation of a hypothesis: They assumed that another planet in an outer orbit would, through its attraction, produce such irregularities.
- Deduction of observable consequences: If there were such a massive planet, it should have a specific orbit and be located at a particular point in the sky, where it could be observed with a telescope.
- Experiment: The astronomer Galle, using a powerful telescope, actually found the planet Neptune, as they predicted. The hypothesis was confirmed by experience.
Theory > Law > Verified > Check (Refuted) > Hypothesis > Generalization > Monitoring > Events
The Cartesian Method Explained
Descartes defines the Cartesian method as consisting of four points (an inductive-deductive method):
- Evidence: Do not accept as true anything that is not clearly and distinctly known. It must originate in reason and be clear (manifested) and distinct (not confused with anything else). Discard any ideas that are not evident or innate.
- Analysis: Divide each difficulty into as many parts as possible.
- Synthesis: Advance knowledge from the most basic to the most complicated.
- Enumeration: Conduct thorough checks to avoid error.
This method is an axiomatic method, starting from a clear principle to which certain rules are applied. The Cartesian method is deductive, as the first truism is “I think, therefore I am.” This methodology is derived from Euclid. The first affirmation he made was doubt; then, I doubt, therefore I think. Thinking relates to ideas, and evidence relates to common sense.
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