Post on 07-May-2015
description
History and Philosophy of ScienceAlfred Roy P. Manuzon, RN
Content
• Rationalism
• Empiricism
• Science and Theory in the
Early 20th Century
• Science and Theory in the
Late 20th Century
Rationalism
• Power of reason• Emphasizes the importance of priori reasoning as the appropriate method in advancing knowledge
• Theory-then-research strategy• Develop a systematic explanation (theory) of a given phenomenon then subject this to experiments
Empiricism
• Power or sensory experience• Scientific truth was discovered through generalizing observed facts in the natural world.
• Collection of facts precedes attempts to formulate generalizations
• Research-then-theory strategy
Science and Theory in the Early 20th Century
• Philosophers focused on the analysis of theory structure
• Scientists focused on empirical research• Minimal interest in the history of science, nature of scientific discover, or the similarities between the philosophical views of science and the scientific methods
• Positivism emerged as dominant view of science
Positivism
• Logical positivist- empirical research and logical analysis were two approaches that would produce scientific knowledge.
• Theories must be tested through observation and experimentation
• Empirical facts exist independently of theories and offer the only basis for objectivity in science
Science and Theory in the Late 20th Century
• Empirical knowledge was arranged in different patterns at a given time, and in a given culture
• Scientists seeking to understand the social world cannot cognitively know an external world that is independent of their own life experiences
• Focus on science as a process of continuing research rather than the emphasis on accepted findings
• Emphasis was on understanding scientific discovery and the process involved in changes in theories over time
Science and Theory in the Late 20th Century
• Theories play a significant role in determining what the scientist will observe and how it will be interpreted
• Observations are influenced by ideas in the mind of the observer
• Science is viewed as an ongoing process• It is a myth that science can establish final truths.• Tentative consensus based on reasoned judgements about available evidence is the most that can be expected
End