Understanding Scientific Revolution, Ethics, and Science
Understanding the Scientific Revolution
What is understood by the scientific revolution?
It is a phenomenon that radically changed the world’s image. This revolution introduced the hypothetical-deductive method, linking mathematical calculation with experimental verification.
When and where did it take place?
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Methods: Inductive, Deductive, Hypothetical-Deductive
What is the difference between the inductive, deductive, and hypothetical-deductive methods?
The deductive method is useful in mathematics and logic, linking propositions to draw consequences from known facts. However, it doesn’t serve to bring new ideas to explain empirical facts in the real world.
In contrast, the inductive method generalizes from known facts, but we can never achieve completely secure and unquestionable knowledge.
The hypothetical-deductive method introduces a new way of doing science. When a problem or fact to be explained is detected, a hypothesis is elaborated and tested through experiments. If it resists these verification tests, it is provisionally corroborated and acquires the status of a scientific law.
Semmelweis and Puerperal Fever: An Illustration
Illustrate the latter method using the history of puerperal fever and Semmelweis.
The Semmelweis case exemplifies the hypothetical-deductive method. He developed various hypotheses and tested them empirically through experiments. Some were falsified using logic. The study involved two groups: the experimental group (Women of the First Division) and the control group (Women of the Second Division), making it easy to compare results. This also proves that hypotheses can be verified, falsified, or, in this case, corrected and expanded, demonstrating the provisional nature of scientific laws.
The Usefulness of Science
In what sense do we say that science is useful knowledge?
The predictive nature of science allows us to anticipate events and adapt better to the world. Science investigates to describe facts and produce useful predictions based on these descriptions.
Defining Key Philosophical Terms
Define the terms ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, and philosophical anthropology.
- Ethics: A philosophical discipline that studies morality, focusing on our behavior and concepts of good, bad, and virtuous.
- Aesthetics: A philosophical discipline that studies art and beauty.
- Epistemology: A philosophical discipline that studies science, its methods, procedures, and the value of its claims.
- Philosophical Anthropology: A philosophical discipline that studies human beings through reflection on their cultural products (art, morality, science, history).
Classification of the Sciences
Establish a general classification of the sciences.
- Logics
- Formal mathematical physics
- Theoretical geology
- Empirical Natural Sciences Physical Chemistry
- Biology Biological Engineering Practices
- Medical zoology
- Genetics
- Human psychology
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- History
- Linguistics
- Economy
Characteristics of Scientific Knowledge
What are the fundamental characteristics of scientific knowledge?
- Acquired methodically and based rationally
- Organized systematically
- Formulated and rigorously reviewed, critically exposed
- In the case of physical-mathematical sciences, scientific progress in the case of empirical sciences.
- Formulated exactly and verified empirically
Characteristics of Philosophical Ideas
What are the characteristics that philosophical ideas should have?
Philosophical ideas should be:
- Rational: based on reason and not on beliefs, superstitions, and imaginations.
- Coherent: Not contradictory. Exposed with clarity and precision.
- Argued: Pertinent. Justified based on sound reasons and ideas from others.
Main Functions of Philosophy
What are the main functions of philosophy?