WHAT and WHY Science and Philosophy of Science?

 Science

Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. The earliest evidence of science can be found in prehistoric times, such as the discovery of fire, invention of the wheel and development of writing.

Science is exciting. Science is a method of discovering what is in the universe and the way those things work today, how they worked in the past, and the way they are likely to work in the future. Scientists are motivated by the thrill of seeing or figuring out something that nobody has before.

Science is useful. The knowledge generated by science is powerful and reliable. It may be used to develop new technologies, treat diseases, and handle several other forms of problems.

Science is ongoing. Science is continually refining and increasing our knowledge of the universe, and because it does, it leads to new questions for future investigation. Science will never be "finished".


Scientific Method

The scientific method is used in all sciences—including chemistry, physics, geology, and psychology. The scientists in these fields ask different/completely different questions and perform different tests. However, they use a similar core approach to find answers that are logical and supported by proof.

Scientific methodology includes the following:

  • Objective observation: Measurement and data (possibly although not necessarily using mathematics as a tool)
  • Evidence
  • Experiment and/or observation as benchmarks for testing hypotheses
  • Induction: reasoning to establish general rules or conclusions drawn from facts or examples
  • Repetition
  • Critical analysis
  • Verification and testing: critical exposure to scrutiny, peer review and assessment.

Scientific Explanation

What exactly is scientific explanation? ‘Explanation in science’ begins with Carl Hempel's covering law model of explanation, which says that to explain a phenomenon is to point out that its occurrence follows deductively from a general law, maybe supplemented by other laws and/or specific facts, all of that should be true.

Induction

A method of reasoning (arguing) which infers a general conclusion based on individual cases, examples, specific bits of proof, and other specific kinds of premises.

Deduction

A method of reasoning that starts with a general truth, applies that truth to a particular case (resulting in a second piece of evidence), and from those two pieces of evidence (premises), draws a particular conclusion regarding the specific case.

Science and Philosophy of Science

Philosophy is a kind of Science, a reservoir of knowledge which will only be understood through rigorous investigation and study. There are many things philosophers of science study, however one central set of concerns is what's distinctive about science - how science differs from other human activities, what grounds its body of knowledge, what options are essential to scientific engagement with phenomena, etc. this means philosophers of science have spent a good bit of time trying to find the line between science and non-science, trying to figure out the logic with which scientific claims are grounded, working to understand the relation between theory and empirical data, and working out the common thread that unites several disparate scientific fields - assuming such a common thread exists.

Followings are the main branches of philosophy:

  • Axiology: Also referred to because the theory of value, axiology explores the nature of value and its metaphysical aspects. value Theory is usually interchangeably used as axiology and this branch of Philosophy peruses upon the value of goodness.
  • Metaphysics: Metaphysics has been a primary area of philosophical debate. it's primarily concerned with explaining the nature of being and the world. traditionally, it has two different study areas, including Cosmology and ontology.
  • Epistemology: Basically it's about the study of knowledge. What can we know? A basic question concerning epistemology is, what's knowledge? It also asks questions like, will can ever be absolute? Is there a limit for humans to understand certain things?
  • Ethics
  • Political Philosophy
  • Aesthetics
  • Logic

Thank You!
Written by: Himauv Atthanayake

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