Nature
& characteristic of science
Science is a systematic method of continuing
investigation that uses observation,
hypothesis, testing, measurement, experimentation, logical argument and
theory building to lead to more adequate explanation of natural phenomena.
Ø Methodological
activity, discipline, or study. An activity that appears to require study and
method.
Ø Knowledge,
especially that gained through experience.
Ø Is the
ongoing process of exploring and discovering the way nature works. We may never know everything there is to know
about life and the universe, but we can continue to expand our understanding by
making observations, asking questions,
& seeking answers.
Science
is our attempt to understand the objects and events we experience in nature and
the means by which we do so.
People develop understanding about things they experience by asking
question and finding answers. What is
life? Why does my heartbeat? Why does it pump blood? What causes diseases such as Herpes,
Diabetes, or AIDS? Why won’t my car
start? In attempting to find answers to
questions such as these, one is actually doing science. In biology most of the questions involve
living things. Finding answers to them
involves you in doing biology… the science of life.
Steps
to make Theory:
Observation
→ Analysis the questions → Hypothesis → Prediction → Testing Hypothesis /
Experimentation if it is success then becomes Theory if not the again, we have
to make new Hypothesis.
Nature
of Science
1.
Science is a particular way of looking
at nature
2.
Science is an accumulated and systematized body of
knowledge
3.
Science is an interdisciplinary area of
learning.
Characteristics
of Science:
1. It is
guided by natural law
– The pursuit of scientific knowledge must be
guided by the physical and chemical laws that govern the universe (state of
existence).
2. It has
to be explained by referencing these natural laws.
– Scientific knowledge must explain what is
observed by reference in nature. We
cannot invoke the explanations based on supernatural deities (ghosts, angels,
gremlins, fairies, etc.) miracles, or magic.
– Science must only rely on observable,
testable evidence which must either support or not support hypotheses. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary
evidence.
3. Science
is testable against the observable world.
– We must be able to make observations in the
real world, directly or indirectly, ask questions, or form and test hypotheses = a tentative, causal explanation/answer for an
observation or phenomenon.
_ We use observations and/or tests to answer
questions about the natural world.
– Science relies on observable, testable
evidence, which must either support or not support hypotheses.
4. Its
conclusions are tentative, that is, are not necessarily the final word.
_ If we draw a conclusion based on some
observation or test on some event, we must be ready always to discard or to
modify our conclusion, if further observations falsify it.
_ Can’t be scientific if you start with a
conclusion and refuse to change it regardless of the evidence developed during
the course of the investigation.
5. It is
falsifiable.
- You
must be able to disprove any statement.
If there is no possibility that the statement cannot be correct, then it
isn’t science. What this means is that
science will seek out errors and correct them.
Unlike other philosophies, it’s a self-correcting system. We add to and take away information on a
daily basis depending on new discoveries and new evidence.
6. It
relies on evidence that is testable (from observations and
experimentations). If we cannot make
repeated observations or experiments to gather information, then it is outside
the realm of science (e.g. UFO’s, haunted houses, etc.).
7.
Science is logical & rational
8.
Science makes well-defined claims
9.
Scientific experiments are repeatable
10. Science insists that extraordinary
claims require extraordinary evidence
No comments:
Post a Comment