Full chapter text
Science is not just a list of facts. Science is a complex process of
questioning, hypothesizing, observing, measuring, experimenting,
calculating, modelling, theorizing, reproducing and institutionalizing
inquiry. Scientific knowledge changes, but changes do not prove
arbitrariness. In fact, the capacity for revision is the strength of science.
37.1 The characteristics of a science
The philosophical question is what is the criterion that separates science
from non-science. The use of the only Many astronomical findings are
made without direct controlled experiments. It is just that the
mathematics Many areas of biology are observational, rather than
mathematical. Karl Popper insisted on the rebuttal of scientific claims
that possible evidence would disprove. However, the history of actual
science shows that theories are not immediately discarded upon a single
failed observation; instruments, supporting hypotheses, and data and
methods are also examined.
37.2 Coon and the scientific paradigm
Thomas Kuhn discusses the crisis and paradigm-shifting of general
science in the history of science. It would be wrong to call this idea that
science is only fashion. Paradigms provide social and conceptual
frameworks; however, the acceptance of new theories is not merely a
power struggle; the effectiveness of problem-solving, prediction,
interpretability, data, and research are crucial.
37.3 Scientific realism and instrumentalism
When science deals with electrons, genes, quarks, curved spacetime or
other indirect objects, the question arises whether all objects really are:
are theories merely successful computational devices? Scientific realism
says that successful theories often capture some aspect of the actual
structure of the world. The instrumentalist view cautions that predicate-
failure does not automatically prove absolute metaphysical truth.
Parallel philosophy accepts not infallibility but evidence-based belief in
the dispute.
37.4 Observations and Theories
All we see are the facts: the sentence is simple. Scientific observation is
connected to instruments, measurement methods, concepts, and
background theory. However, this does not imply that the facts are
arbitrary. Different teams can test one-two claims using the same tools,
recursion, public statistics, and critical methods.
37.5 Reasons for Arrival and Uncertainty
Science looks for causal explanations, not just correlations. Causality is
investigated by controlled experiments, natural experiments, statistical
models, mechanistic explanations, and various methods. Hume 's
advent-problem serves as a reminder that the conclusion from the past
to the future is not philosophically sound. Modern science does not hide
uncertainties; it organizes them by probability, confidence-interval,
error, recursion, and independent verification.
37.6 Science and Values
Science can tell which policies reduce pollution, which drugs are
effective on average, and which technologies increase risk. But risk alone
is justified; our interests are primary; we must make sacrifices; our
ethical questions do not end with data alone. Facts inform value
judgments. values do not cancel out facts.
37.7 Scientism and anti-science
One extreme says that only science can answer all meaningful questions.
Another says that epistemology is also an ideology, and therefore not a
specific epistemological authority. Both of these are not right. The
empirical method of science is extremely powerful in the questions of the
natural world, disease, matter, biological processes, climate, and
technological influence. But the question of justice, beauty, rights, the
meaning of life and religious experience does not end with laboratory-
assessment alone.
Pūrvapakṣa (Prima Facie View): Science has changed, so why rely on science today?
Uttarapakṣa (Response): Changing can be a sign of improvement not failure.
Reliability is built from the ability to perform tests, independent reviews, and
revisions, rather than from infallibility.
37.8 Interpretation and forecasting and control
Scientific theories do not simply summarize observed phenomena; they
propose causes or structures, predict new outcomes, and sometimes
enable interventions. These three functions are not the same. A model
may give correct predictions but may misinterpret the reasons.A
historical science may give strong explanations without precise control.
The assessment of science will vary by subject. Planetary motion, disease
distribution, geological history, and social behavior cannot be examined
in the same laboratory. Multiplicity of law not evidentialism Transparent
measurement and error-correction will be required in every field.
37.9 Theory-based observations
What scientists see is influenced by the equipment, training, and
concepts. Telescope images need the principle of reading signals, not
simple visualizations of microscopic samples or data sheets. For this
reason, the concept of constructed facts is not simple.
But principle-dependence is not an arbitrariness of facts. Separate
apparatus and independent teams create external pressure on blind
trials and successful prediction theory. The world will not give all the
results according to my language. Critical realism accepts both mediation
and objective resistance.
37.10 Fragmentability and its Limitations
According to the theory of refutability, scientific claims will take such a
risk that possible observations will disprove them. This principle
distinguishes science from claims that match every result. However, a
failed prediction may rely on assumptions, devices, or measurement
errors rather than just core principles.
So scientific practice does not immediately give up on a theory on a test.
Retesting involves looking at alternative explanations and the evidence
as a whole. Flexibility may be justified. it is inappropriate to defend the
principle of continuous exception. How boundaries are drawn is also a
matter of history and community decision.
37.11 The paradigm and the scientific transformation
The scientific community works within common examples, questions,
tools and standards. In times of crisis, the old paradigm may lose its
power and new paradigms organize problems in new ways. A change
would be not only to add new facts but also to change the way the
relevant facts are shown.
The conclusion that paradigm-debating makes science only politics is
wrong. Proof, problem-solving, accuracy and effectiveness play a real
role, although the decision is not entirely mechanical. History shows the
human institution of science. not denying its achievements.
37.12 Saying the uncertainty in public
Scientific findings are often accompanied by probabilities, error
thresholds, and conditions. In public discourse, if this limitation were
removed, the conclusion would look like an infallible commandment; if
the limitation were merely repeated, even useful knowledge would be
useless. Proper language distinguishes between main findings and
confidence levels, major uncertainties, and the outcome of the decision.
Uncertainty is not the cause of inaction. Caution may be appropriate in
the face of incomplete knowledge if the potential harm is severe and
irreversible. Decision making is not done by science alone; cost and
fairness come into play. However, a correct presentation of the factual
basis is a prerequisite for ethical judgment.
Chapter Conclusion
Parallel philosophy does not deify or discount science. Science is one of
the best public methods of understanding the physical world. not the
only source of moral value.
Chapter Bibliography
Karl Popper — The Logic of Scientific Discovery.
Thomas S. Kuhn — The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
Carl G. Hempel — Philosophy of Natural Science.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — “Scientific Method”; “Scientific Realism”.
Part V — Social and Political Philosophy