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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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What is the role of science?
#14895947 - 08/09/11 12:26 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Is it about DESCRIBING the percieved world? In objective terms?
Is it about predicting and MANIPULATING the percieved world?
Is it about EXPLAINING phenomenon?
Do you agree with one or more?
Do you think they are all facets of the same thing?
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drawde
Growerite

Registered: 10/18/09
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Noteworthy]
#14896086 - 08/09/11 12:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Noteworthy said: Is it about DESCRIBING the percieved world? In objective terms?
This is what science does.
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Is it about predicting and MANIPULATING the percieved world?
This is what we do with science
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Is it about EXPLAINING phenomenon?
Same as the first part.
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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: drawde]
#14896188 - 08/09/11 12:58 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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When someone explains that the universe began with a big bang, they are not describing the universe.
Describing the universe (In my use) involves simply stating recorded phenomenon
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,729
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Noteworthy]
#14896355 - 08/09/11 01:28 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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As I understand, the task of science is to further our understanding of the world in which we live, but constantly verifying and expanding the body of knowledge we have of that world. This is done through processes of (empirical) research, (peer) review, dissemination and education.
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Noteworthy said: Is it about DESCRIBING the percieved world? In objective terms?
That's part of it.
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Is it about predicting and MANIPULATING the percieved world?
That can be part of empirical research (i.e. experiments), but not a necessary part of all science.
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Is it about EXPLAINING phenomenon?
Yes, by finding explanations of observed phenomena in the form of theories, formulating hypotheses based on those theories and then testing those hypotheses in order to verify the theories and thereby adding to the body of knowledge.
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Noteworthy]
#14903525 - 08/10/11 08:32 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Noteworthy said: Is it about predicting and MANIPULATING the percieved world?
This, I think, comes closest. Science doesn't describe reality "in itself," as if there were such a thing. Rather, it describes patterns in nature that we can use to make testable predictions. So the reality that science describes is not so much objective as it is pragmatic.
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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Silversoul]
#14904734 - 08/11/11 02:55 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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for a science forum i would have thought this topic would be more popular.
koraks - do you think science is more about verification or falsification? or do you think these are the same thing?
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Noteworthy]
#14904977 - 08/11/11 05:45 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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> for a science forum i would have thought this topic would be more popular.
It is actually something that is posted once a year or so... most of us that have been around for a while have discussed this several times already. The topic tends to degrade into the difference between science and philosophy, another topic that comes up over and over and tends to lead nowhere. (I'm not saying that you made a bad post, just pointing out why it isn't being jumped upon by the 'regulars'.)
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koraks
Registered: 06/02/03
Posts: 26,729
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Noteworthy]
#14906878 - 08/11/11 02:52 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Noteworthy said: koraks - do you think science is more about verification or falsification? or do you think these are the same thing?
In my view, they are two sides of the same coin. We tend to verify by attempting to falsify, and then if that fails in all conceivable ways, we assume that the particular element is verified. But sometimes, positive verification is also possible, although even then, an alternative theory might be available to explain the observed phenomenon. Positively verifying that theory would automatically falsify the first. Science, I think, is both about verification and falsification - simply because they are for all practical purposes inseparable.
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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: koraks]
#14908793 - 08/11/11 09:43 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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But the very fact that a verification includes all consistent paradigms is something that most people seem to not get their heads around...
It makes people focus on the popular theories rather than seeing the massive possibility space that is open. It makes people think that science is focused to a point when in fact it is more like a cattle-heard keeping a large amorphous flock from falling off a cliff
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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: koraks]
#14908801 - 08/11/11 09:44 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
koraks said:
Quote:
Noteworthy said: koraks - do you think science is more about verification or falsification? or do you think these are the same thing?
In my view, they are two sides of the same coin. We tend to verify by attempting to falsify, and then if that fails in all conceivable ways, we assume that the particular element is verified. But sometimes, positive verification is also possible, although even then, an alternative theory might be available to explain the observed phenomenon. Positively verifying that theory would automatically falsify the first. Science, I think, is both about verification and falsification - simply because they are for all practical purposes inseparable.
yeah i think thats just lazy then. If the topic comes up again and again then there should be a basic answer for it. Otherwise, there is an issue with consensus as to what science is, in which case the different dimensions of science ought to be split up into discrete things which we should have words for.
This is just basic analysis, the root of all science
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giza

Registered: 08/25/09
Posts: 2,089
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Re: What is the role of science? [Re: Noteworthy]
#14908891 - 08/11/11 10:06 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I think science is the truth everyone is looking for. When it is proven in our language through testing it should stand as truth. Just like when you add one of something to another one of something you then have two somethings.
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