HPS100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cenozoic, Scientific Method, Pseudoscience
13 Sep 2016
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A worldview is characterized by its metaphysical components. Teleology: everything in the universe has a goal. Plenism: universe is full; there is no empty space. Heterogeneity: 2 regions of universe and they obey different laws. These are some of the core metaphysical beliefs implicit in the am worldview. Mechanicism: made of bits of interacting matter. Action by contact: no action at distance. Dualistic determinism: mind is free to act spontaneously. Plenism: everything is full; no empty space. Homogeneity: one set of laws for all universe. Dynamism: matter is extended substances; contact + forces. Action at a distance: law of gravity, coulo(cid:373)(cid:271)"s la(cid:449) (cid:894)opp (cid:272)harge attra(cid:272)t(cid:895, dynamism: matter is an extended substance interacting through forces. Probabilistic determinism: all has causes but same initial condition may produce different effects: quantum physics, economics. A transition from on worldview to the next normally involves changes in our core metaphysical beliefs. Metaphysics: set of views about the world taken as a whole.
