HPS100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Neurophysiology, Empirical Evidence, Formal Science
10 Apr 2018
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Is there such a thing as proof in science: can science prove something without a reasonable doubt, scientific theories change over time, aristotelian physics newtonian physics general relativity. Generalize the results of our observations and arrive at this conclusion: mathematics follows definition not experience. Concept of three is basically one and another one and another one. We do(cid:374)"t (cid:374)eed to (cid:272)o(cid:374)fi(cid:396)(cid:373) this th(cid:396)ough e(cid:454)pe(cid:396)i(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts: all swans are white: Holds in all possible worlds: the opposite is inconceivable: all propositions of formal sciences (e. g. mathematical, logic are analytic, synthetic propositions not deducible from definition. Can contradict the results of experiments or observations. Do not necessarily hold in all possible worlds: the opposite is conceivable: most propositions of empirical science are synthetic (e. g. physics, biology, economics). This is because the opposite is conceivable (meaning you can imagine such a world). Can synthetic propositions be absolutely certain: can analytic propositions be absolutely certain, yes.
