HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF

SCIENCE
(PHI454)
CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY AND
PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
TABLE CONTENT
1.1 What is Science
1.2 What is Technology
1.2.1 Technology vs Science
1.3 Scientific method
1.4Iduction
1.5 Deduction
1.6 Thruth in Science
1.7 Characteristic of Science
1.7.1 Reductionism
1.7.2 Repeatability
1.7.3 Refutation
1.8Philosophy Aristotle Science
1.8.1 Philosophy
1.8.2 The rise of Greek Philosophy
1.8.3 Plato
1.8.4 Aristotle
1.9 Sublunar and Superlunar Regions
1.9.1 Nature of basic element
1.9.2 Superlunar region
1.9.3 Nature of motion
2.0 Current issue for chapter 1
 To differentiate
sublunar and
superlunar
region

To understand

OBJECTIVES
To understand the
the history of philosophy of
science science from
worldview

To explain the
four basic
elements of
sublunar regions
EXERCISE QUESTION

WHAT DO YOU
WHAT IS SCIENCE ? UNDERSTAND WITH
SCIENCE ?

WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCES OF
SCIENCE AND
THECNOLOGY ?
 WHAT IS SCIENCE

known as “natural philosophy”

 A thick People in
textbook white coat Einstein’s
equations

The launch of SCIENCE

the space
shuttle

Bubbling
beakers ….
Naturalist
 All of those images reflect
some aspect of science, but
Science also study about the none of them provides a
full picture because science
has so many facets

Natural
phenomena

• WHY some of natural phenomena had

happened
• HOW to solve them
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE

natural world and does

not deal with WHAT and HOW
supernarural
explainations.
community
testing ideas by Accepted scientific endeavor
scientists ideas are reliable

New perspectives emerge

Making observations these ideas can be revised

derived law or theory

may change over time
Science answers the
due
WHY part of a theory
THE GREEK WORLD

alphabetic
writing system
rather than a
logographic
system

Science begins
in the Greek
widely world with the
accessible rise of
widespread
literacy
 HISTORY OF SCIENCE

 Beginning with Thales in the 6th century BCE, were from the
city of Miletus

 Asking questions about mathematical generalizations and

the fundamental nature

 Did not invoke religious explanations

 Science and philosophy did not have clear divisions at this

time, and philosophers and scientists typically worked in
both fields.
 systematic knowledge of the
physical or material world gained
Question 1 through observation and
experimentation.
any of the bran ches of natural or
Give three meanings of the word science physical science.

(Dec14)(June15) – 6 marks a branch of knowledge

(Jan13) – 4 marks or study dealing with a
body of facts or truths
(Apr07)(Apr10) – 3 marks systematically
arranged and showing
the operation of
general laws
skill, especially
reflecting a
precise
application of
facts or principles;
proficiency.
Mystery of Death Valley's 'Sailing
Stones‘...

 Located in a remote area of California's Death Valley

National Park, the heavy stones appear to move across the
dried lake bed known as Racetrack Playa, leaving a trail
 behind them in the PHI454
 cracked mud.
Mystery of Death Valley's 'Sailing
Stones‘..

• The rocks' apparent movement has been blamed on

everything from space aliens and magnetic fields to
pranksters.

• Some researchers thought that dust devils might

move the rocks, some of which weigh as much as
700 lbs.

• Other researchers believed the strong winds that

frequently whip across the vast lake bed could
cause the rocks to slide across the ground.

• But no one has actually seen the rocks move, which

only adds to the mystery.
Different definitions of Science
body of
knowledge
based on
observation and
experimentation

knowledge that
knowledge that deals with the
is distinct from phenomena of
art. the universe and
their laws
 What is technology?
 Technology is comprised of the products and
processes created by engineers to meet our needs
and wants.
 1.2WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY ?

More on HOW to solve the problems

This is because
they were created
for making our life
being easier

DID TECHONOLOGY MAKE OUR LIFE BETTER ?

 Technology vs Science
 Technology is study of  Science is study of our
our human-made natural world and
world and deals with deals with “what is”.
“whatcan be”.
HOW TECHNOLOGY SOLVE PROBLEMS

 • How can we reduce the possibility of flood

in Selangor?
 – Using technology – clean the rivers, tunnels,
 reservoirs, flood monitoring system
 • How can we reduce the water shortage
problem in Selangor?
 – Using technology - water catchment
 • How can we improve home security?
 – Using technology – CCTV, motion detector
Science vs Technology

 • The goal of science is the pursuit of

knowledge for its own sake
 • The goal of technology is to create products
that solve problems and improve human life.
 • science is knowing, technology is doing.

 • technology is the practical application of

science.
 1.2.1 Technology vs Science

TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE

The study of our human-made world The study of our natural world

It deals with “What can be” It deals with “What is”

 PAST YEAR QUESTION

Question 1
Distinguish between science and technology
(June16)(Dec14)(Dec15) – 6 marks

Question 7
Write short notes on the difference between science and technology
(June12) – 10 marks
(Apr10)(Oct10) – 5 marks

SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
The study of our natural world The study of our human-made world

The goal of science is the pursuit of knowledge The goal of technology is to create products
for its own sake that solve problems and improve human life

Focuses on understanding natural phenomena Focuses on understanding the made environment

 1.8.1 Meaning of
Philosophy

Philosophy is not there to -tests our most fundamental

solve practical problems, beliefs, values and convictions
problems of society or that we have.
individual. -test them for the purpose of
getting them right.

-the form of asking critical

questions, of debating.
-Philosophy is the love of wisdom.
“The love of getting to
the right answer
using debate.”
-Relates to human behaviour,
specifically.
Example: ideas on virtue, morals and
ethics.
BROAD STATEMENT:Scientists
are less interested in this.

The second question relates

specifically to ideas on logic and
reason, and perception and reality
 1.8.2 The Rise of Greek
Philosophy

The Greek philosophers, Plato (427-347BC) and Aristotle (384-322BC),

were the first Greek philosophers.

-to adequately deal with questions about their world, their beliefs and their
reality

– to confront dualism
PLATO
• He is interested in the
forms, universals, general

ARISTOTLE
• He is interested in
particulars, specifics
1.8.3 THE RISE OF PHILOSOPHY
(PLATO)
 1.8.4 The Rise of Philosophy:
ARISTOTLE

he writes the
Physics, and
favored a -preferred more
then the
bottom-up empiricism over interested in
approach deduction specifics Metaphysics and
later on Historia
Animalium

The Physics is
The collection of lessons on
-It is divided into -theoretical
Metaphysics is
three parts (1) -methodological
so named
ontology, (2) -philosophical concerns
because it
theology and (3) rather than physical
universal science. came after the
theories or contents of
Physics. particular
investigations
 PLATO ARISTOTLE

Rational tradition
DEDUCTIVE INDUCTIVE
REASONING REASONING

“Top down” Bottom up

approach approach

Theory laden
observation Empirical
tradition

https://www.youtube.com/wa One starts with Drawing

an idea conclusions from
tch?v=Q7K59sHKCTM observation
 Dominant system of beliefs from 300bc to
Earth is stationary: neither
1600ad (2000 years)
orbiting other body such as
Earth is the center of universe.
sun or spins on its axis

Universe is limited Moon, planets

in space (finite). and sun revolve
around earth: a
complete revolution
every 24 hours.
Earth as centre of universe.
- sphere of Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun,
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and fixed stars.
- Beyond that primum mobile.
 •Sublunar (terrestrial, earth) and
superlunar (celestial, heaven)
regions

earth ≤ sublunar region <moon.

1.9 SUBLUNAR AND -Region between earth and
SUPERLUNAR REGIONS moon: including the earth, not
including the moon.

Superlunar region ≥ moon.

-Region beyond the moon:
including all heavenly bodies:
the moon, sun, planets and
stars.
 1.9.1 NATURE OF
BASIC ELEMENTS

WATER AIR FIRE EARTH

When dirt move
mixed with upward •Earth – move
water, both
beyond move away toward to
tend to move from center
earth and center of the
downward, of universe.
water, but universe.
but water will -•Explains
below fire. -Earth and
float above
why fire water are
dirt. -Explains
burns heavy
-move toward why bubbles -•This
to center of in water upward
explains why
the universe, move through air
rock fall
but is not as
upward. straight down.
strong as
earth.
Richard Dewitt, chapter 1: pg 3-4. chapter 9: pgi81-83.
 1.9.2 SUPERLUNAR
REGION
It composed of 5th element – ether.
Ether in Greek means ‘shining’.

•A mysterious element.

•Nature of ether

•Ether composes object such as

moon, sun, planets and stars.

•A mysterious element.
 1.9.3 NATURE OF
MOTION
Aristotle discourages
any astronomical
In superlunar region:
observation because
Sun, planets & stars
the heaven is beyond
move continuously in
-Has a tendency of the possibility of
circular orbit around Terrestrial motions
circular revolution experimental research
the earth. (motion on earth) are
-This explains why different from
sun, planets and stars celestial motions
continuously move in (motion in the
circular orbit around heaven).
the earth.
-Celestial motion has
it own peculiar law.

References
1.Richard Dewit, Worldviews, Chapter 1 & Chapter 9.
2.Charles Singer, A Short History of Science, pg. 48-49.
a.Bernard Cohen, The Birth of a New Physics, pg 13-14.
QUESTION 1

APR10
c) State and briefly explain the four branches of philosophy. (4mark)

APR07
a) Define briefly the FOUR (4) branches of philosophy : ontology, epistemology,
axiology and logic. (8marks)
Logic is the
science of proper
Axiology is the reasoning , to
theory of values arrive at the truth.
(moral and
aesthetic values).
Epistemology is the theory
of knowledge. It investigates
the nature, source, limitation
and validity of knowledge
Ontology is also known as
metaphysics : (meta + physics) what
comes after physics, dealing with
the most fundamental concepts as
reality, existence, substance,
causality. It deals with questions
which are not settled by science
such as: God, soul, appearance and
reality.
 d

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 REFERENCES
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180911110232.htm
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/philosophy
-https://www.google.com/#q=philosophy+of+sciences
-http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/phos/current
-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology
-http://flip.it/SY0QKt
-http://flip.it/xKgNY
-http://www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415#synopsis
-http://www.Britannica.com/biography/Plato
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magic-except-that-one-is-real-and-the-other-isimaginary
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baby-robot-to-be-your/f55dd22dc99%2Fcnn.com
-futurism.com/energy-thats-out-of-this-world-nasa-just-found-a-gamma-
ray-star-system/
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in-the-world-of-fiction