PS100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Francis Bacon, Karl Popper, Immanuel Kant
Document Summary
All sciences share similar principles and a reliance on the scientific method as ways to discovering and sharpening knowledge. Has two main beliefs; universe operates according to certain natural laws and such laws are discoverable and testable. Scientific method relies on processes of logical reasoning derived from philosophy. Deductive reasoning: reasoning from basic broad principles applied to specific situations (ex. Betting on home team to win because home teams win more often that away teams. Sir francis bacon was the first to question deductive reasoning; he felt the reasoning was too susceptible to the thinker"s biases (ex. Many people go along with higher authority or the crowd rather than their own beliefs) Inductive reasoning: reasoning coming from small specific situations to more general truths. Those using inductive reasoning would begin search for natural laws by making empirical (able to be tested in objective ways; experiment) observations.
