Tag: philosophy of science

The Scientific Method Explained and Common Misunderstandings for the Religious and CAM Proponents

IntroductionMy aim here is to talk about some popular misconceptions about what science is, what it does, and how to best interpret scientific findings.  First, I will speak in general terms, and finally I will look at how these principles apply to CAM (i.e. complementary and alternative medicine), anti-vaccine, anti-GMO, and pretty much any science […]

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Realism vs. Anti-Realism 2: Arguments Concerning Scientific Realism by Bas Van Fraassen

Notes and Thoughts on Arguments Concerning Scientific RealismSummarizing quote: “The rigour of science requires that we distinguish well the undraped figure of nature itself from the gay-coloured (heh!heh!he said “gay”) vesture with which we clothe it at our pleasure.”–Heinrich Hertz quoted by Ludwig Boltzmann, in turn quoted by Van Fraassen, in turn quoted by me.PreambleIn […]

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Realism vs Anti-Realism: Ontological Status of Theoretical Entities by Maxwell

Notes and Thoughts on “The Ontological Status of Theoretical Entities” by Grover MaxwellPreambleOne of the big debates in philosophy of science is between realists and anti-realist.  Although there are many types of each, generally speaking we can say that realists think that our theories describe real entities while the anti-realist don’t.   Here’s an example […]

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Critique of Kuhn: Scientific Revolutions and Semantic Incommensurability

Preamble and Notes to the Reader People is always axin’ me (jk, lol, #thatneverhappens), why don’t you post your papers?  The answer is that while, for the most part, I enjoy writing in my blog, for some reason I don’t like how my philosophy papers turn out.  They seem sterile.  Anyway, I’m posting this paper because it’s […]

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Is Scientific Progress Cumulative or Revolutionary? Kuhn Part 2: Contemporary Science

Notes and Thoughts on Kuhn’s The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions:  Part 2OverviewKuhn argues that scientific progress comes about when one paradigm is replaced by other.  This is in contrast to the view that scientific progress is cumulative, and new theories simply modify existing theoretical structures.Application of The Revolutionary Model to Contemporary ScienceSo, the […]

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Is Scientific Progress Cumulative or Revolutionary? Kuhn Part 1

Notes and Thoughts on Thomas Kuhn’s The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions Favourite Quote: “…whatever its force, the status of the  circular argument is only that of persuasion.  It cannot be made logically or even probabilistically compelling for those who refuse to step into the circle.” Overview Kuhn’s view of how science works is […]

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Thaaaats Not Science: Part 2

Notes and Thoughts on Imre Lakatos’ ‘Science and Pseudoscience’My favourite quote:“But the history of thought shows us that many people were committed to absurd beliefs.  If the strength of beliefs were a hallmark of knowledge, we should have to rank some tales about demons, angels, devils, and of heaven and hell and knowledge.  Scientist, on […]

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Thaaat’s Not Science!

The Demarkation Problem:  Notes and Discussion of Karl Popper’s Falsificationism OverviewOne issue in the philosophy of science is known as the demarkation problem.  That is, where do we draw the line between genuine science and pseudo-science?   What’s the difference between astronomy and astrology?  Chemistry and alchemy?  Medicine and homeopathy?  Psychology and Freudian psycho-analysis?  Evolutionary biology and creation […]

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