HPS100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Blind Experiment, Scientific Method, Fallibilism
18 Nov 2016
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Why do we employ the hypothetoc-destructive method of theory evaluation and not the. Generalism there can be a general theory of scientific change. Particularism there can be no general theory of scientific change. This is the view that is prevalent among historians of science nowadays. There is no universal and fixed method of science. There is nothing universal in science: each historical episode is unique. We organize a trial and give x-anti-depressant to a group of patients with the disorder. If there is a notable improvement, we conclude that the drug is efficient. But what if the improvement had nothing to do with the drug itself, but was due to other factors such as improved nutrition. We organize a trial with two groups of patients: active drug group and control group. If the improvement in the active group is greater than the improvement in the control group, the drug is said to be efficient.
