Announcement!

Attendance
 Module 1, Subtopic 1

Nature and
Method of Science
GE 1212

 DESPITE OF THE INFLUENCE OF

SCIENCE IN
OUR SOCIETY, IT IS NOT ALWAYS
ACCOMPANIED BY A CLEAR
UNDERSTANDING
OF ITS METHODS

“Why do we need to understand Science?”

 A RATIONAL INQUISITION ON
NATURE

…such inquiry must be within

some logical structure, not just

Rational some haphazard

inquisition.

Inquisition Inquirer - assumed to be

capable of rational
inquisition.
Object of inquiry - assumed
to have an objective
existence separate from the
inquirer’s
 SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE

The faithfulness of our model’s representation reflects our

understanding of the world, and it varies with time and
discipline.

These models are not perfect and they undergo constant

change and development.
 1. The collection must be internally
consistent.

HOW DO WE KNOW 2. There must be a logical

THE VALIDITY OF interrelationship between the
statements that organizes them into a
SCIENCE AND ITS coherent whole.
EMPIRICAL
STATEMENTS? 3. A prediction should be deduced,
which can be tested through
experiments or observations.
Examples
 PHILOSOPHICAL
UNDERPINNINGS

The quest of understanding Nature depends on several

assumptions:
1. There is a regularity in Nature expressed by laws.
2. The human mind is capable of understanding these laws of
Nature.
3. The regularity in Nature has the same logical structure as
mathematics.
4. The laws of Nature are the same everywhere and remain so for
all time.
 ALTHOUGH THESE CAN’T BE PROVEN
EMPIRICALLY, WE NEED TO HAVE FAITH IN
THEM FOR
SCIENCE TO EXIST.
 Methods of Science

Problem-observation-hypothesis-
confirmation-theory

Science is empirical
Shows only a small facet of the whole scientific enterprise
Misleads the readers
Scientists are free to use whatever tools or devices, both
physical and mental, that are at their disposal
 Question

What does science give

us?

THE VALUE OF SCIENCE

 SCIENCE GIVES US:

the ability to work around the limitations of the human body imposed upon
by Nature, through its predictive power.

teaches us values and lessons that are essential to becoming both a

rational and moral individual in society (e.g. honesty, humility, tolerance,
and courage).

reveals to each of us our true realities, particularly on how we view and

approach life as a whole.
 G IV EN TH E K EY
"TO MAN IS
E S O F H EA VE N ;
TO THE G A T
E K EY O P EN TH E
THE SAM
F H E L L."
GATES O

RICHARD FEYNMAN (1958)

 Module 1, Subtopic 2

QUESTIONS
CONCERNING
TECHNOLOGY
GE 1212
 Group 1 - Page 1-2
Group 2 - Page 3-4
Group 3 - Page 5-6
Group 4 - Page 7-8
Group Group 5 - Page 9-10

Activity Group 6 - Page 11-12

Group 7 - Page 13-14
Group 8 - Summary
Group 9 - Connection to
Subtopic 1
 Announcement!

Change in the
Groupings
 Announcement!

Final Summative
Assesment Paper