SOME THOUGHTS ONSOME THOUGHTS ON SCIENCE AND SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

TODAY’S SCIENCE TEACHER FACES A DIFFICULT TASK

WE ARE TO TEACH SCIENCE WE ARE TO TEACH SCIENCE AND ACCOMIDATE DOGMAAND ACCOMIDATE DOGMA

BUT, THERE ARE OBVIOUS CONFLICTS

AS BEST WE CAN, WE AS BEST WE CAN, WE WANT TO TEACH TRUTHWANT TO TEACH TRUTH

LET’S LOOK AT HOW SCIENTESTS THINK AND WHAT THEY DO

OUR WORKING PREMISESOUR WORKING PREMISESOUR WORKING PREMISESOUR WORKING PREMISES

Understanding the Universe is our job, and it Understanding the Universe is our job, and it can be understood.can be understood.

Our toolbox is the scientific method.Our toolbox is the scientific method. Ethics are necessary, but religion is not.Ethics are necessary, but religion is not. Errors happen. Errors happen. Truth would be wonderful, but………Truth would be wonderful, but………

Understanding the Universe is our job, and it can be understood.

Our toolbox is the scientific method

Ethics are necessary, but religion is not

Errors happen

The truth would be wonderful, but………

THE TOOLBOX—THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

STEPSSTEPS The problem A hypothesis A theory

The problem

A hypothesis

A theory

THREE CLOSING THOUGHTS

Galileo Galilei ~1834

“I do not feel obligated to believe that the same God who

has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has

intended us to forgo their use”Galileo Galilei, ~1834

Carl Sagan ~1985

“Ten or twenty billion years ago, something happened – the Big Bang, the event that began our

universe. Why it happened is the greatest mystery we know. That it

happened is reasonably clear.”Carl Sagan, ~1985

Distinguishing between religious and science ideas is difficult. Perhaps one test helps – if a person is absolutely certain,

it’s religion.