HPS100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Formal Science, Empirical Evidence, Fallibilism
12 Oct 2016
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The history of science teaches us that theories change what was accepted yesterday may/may not be accepted today. You don"t really need experience & observation to get to this: follows from definitions, e. g. 2 = 1+ 1 & 3=1+1+1 (combine these two, mathematics (&formal sciences) general template: Can analytic propositions be absolutely certain: yes, b/c analytic propositions are either definitions or follow from definitions. No b/c it will only prove that your sensations cohere w/ each other. Can"t know w/ certainty that our senses are deceiving us: no matter what you see,taste,etc. , it"s all going to be a sensation. Therefore, only thing i can say for sure is that i see that swans are white. We"re never in the position to be absolute sure that our senses are not deceiving us. We can"t know with certainty when our senses can be trusted, & when they can"t be trusted. Problem is our experiences are always limited.
