Transcript WAYS OF KNOWING INTUITION OR TENACITY AUTHORITY LOGIC

WAYS OF KNOWING
1.
INTUITION OR TENACITY
I just "feel it"
2.
AUTHORITY
Bible, grandmother, expert
3.
LOGIC
Deducing the answer
4.
SCIENCE
Empirical test (focus for our class)
…each is useful
Some are best for particular questions.
For example, what is the fastest way to Calgary?
1.
WHICH WAYS OF KNOWING WOULD "WORK?"
2.
WHICH IS “BEST?”
THEORY
Statement of how one thing causes another,
usually involving TESTABLE hypotheses
EXAMPLE
OBSERVATION: Trees change colour in the fall.
THEORIES:
The great hunter causes trees to change colour in the fall.
Trees change colour in the fall because of frost.
Trees change colour because of they receive less light.
A GOOD THEORY:
EXPLAINS current observations
PREDICTS future events
is USEFUL (practical applications)
is SIMPLE[R] than other explanations
(parsimonious)
is TESTABLE (theory can be falsified)
Theory versus Observation
Observation
(Variables)
------------------------------------------
Theory
(Concepts)
The “wheel of science” (Bacon)
I
Theory
N
D
U
Hypothesis
C Generalization
T
I
O
Observation
N
D
E
D
U
C
T
I
O
N
From abstract to empirical
ABSTRACT
EMPIRICAL
Concept A:
Concept B:
Punishment
Attendance
Yelling at
students
Theoretical
Increases
attendance by Observable
50%
THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD
What’s GOOD about this method?
1. PURPOSIVE
2. RIGOROUS
3.
4.
5.
TESTABLE
OBJECTIVE
FALSIFYABLE
Falsification (Popper)
1. Make a Prediction
2. Establish Ground Rules
3. Gather Data
4. Compare Results to Predictions
a. If consistent, hypothesis was
supported (NOT proven)
b. If not, revise hypothesis and retest
Advances in Science (Kuhn)
 “Normal” science
 Development and testing of compatible theories
 “Paradigm shifts”
 Radical re-orientation
 Examples:
 Astronomy
 Marketing
Astronomy: Aristotle
The Elements
Earth
Water
Air, Fire
Sun
Stars
Astronomy: Ptolemy
Astronomy: Copernicus
Sun
Earth
Kuhn’s
“paradigm
shift”
CONCLUSION
Data don’t “speak for themselves”
 Must know what to look for
 Must know how to interpret the findings
 Must understand underlying THEORY
Quote of the Day
Theories are nets cast to catch what we call
“the world”: to rationalize, to explain, and to
master it. We endeavor to make the mesh
ever finer and finer.
Karl R. Popper