Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Nature of Science: Quicktime™ and A Tiff (Uncompressed) Decompressor Are Needed To See This Picture
The Nature of Science: Quicktime™ and A Tiff (Uncompressed) Decompressor Are Needed To See This Picture
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Truth Proof
Belief Evidence
Debate Consensus
Human activities are the major cause of global warming.
1. I agree
2. I think that humans have a small role in
global warming
3. I disagree that human activities that any role
in global warming
4. I am not well-informed enough to have an
opinion either way
Which of the following is true of Darwin’s
Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection?
A. A small but vocal minority of scientists believe that
the theory of evolution is true
B. Scientific opinion is about evenly split as to whether
evolution really explains the diversity of life on Earth.
C. Scientific opinion runs about 90% in favor of the
theory of evolution and about 10% opposed.
D. While widely accepted by most scientists, there
would still be “reasonable doubt” about whether
evolution is true -- Judicial proof is much harder to
achieve than scientific proof.
E. None of the above: evolution is the only plausible
explanation for the diversity of life on earth.
The scientific method:
The scientific method
• Based on proposing and
testing hypotheses
• hypothesis = educated guess
“I believe…”
Based on what?
Evidence.
Baloney detection kit
Baloney detection kit
Scientific
consensus
“Consensus” does not mean that
100% of scientists will agree with the
idea, only that the vast majority do.
Example:
1. I agree
2. I think that humans have a small role in
global warming
3. I disagree that human activities that any role
in global warming
4. I am not well-informed enough to have an
opinion either way
Hallmarks of Science: #1