HPS100H1 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Falsifiability, Repeatability, Dogma
8 Nov 2012
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A set of all theories accepted by the scientific community of the time. The history of science shows that the mosaic of accepted theories changes through time. Question of absolute knowledge what is absolute and non-changable. Case 1: mathematics how do you know a thing to be true? replicable experiment, replicable. Observation is generic, experiments occur in controlled settings. Analytic proposition- necessarily true in all possible worlds. Cannot contradict the results of experiments or observations. Necessarily hold in all possible worlds: the opposite is inconceivable analytic, ie formal sciences. Synthetic proposition - dependant on specifics of this universe. Can contradict its own results in a different variable/ universe. Empirical science (social and natural science) physics, biology, sociology, eco, because the opposite is conceivable. You cannot be absolutely sure of objective perception/ Optical illusions/ mirages sensations cohere with each other to form group propositions. How can you arrive at a general conclusion, if experience provides with a singular proposition.
