ASTR 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Scientific Modelling, Milky Way
28 Jul 2017
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Astro100 lecture 4: scientific method continued, celestial sphere. Scientific hallmarks: modern science seeks answers to observed phenomena that rely solely on observed phenomena. That means no divine intervention: science progresses through the creating and testing of hypotheses that explain the laws of nature as simply as possible. This is also known as occam"s razor : a scientific model must allow us to revise or abandon the model if the predictions do not fit the model. Hypotheses can be rejected but never proven completely. At best, a theory can be adequate for describing a certain type of phenomena. Do not trust that the theory is true- you must verify by experimentation. Simple theories are prefered to more complicated ones. Any theory can be proven by making the explanation complicated enough. If a theory has its predictions come true, we are obligated to accept it even if it means abandoning our old theory.
