Philosophy of Science

Question 1

The Academy, Athens 400 BC

Answer 1

Foundations of critical thinking.

Socrates taught Plato who taught Aristotle

Question 2

The first scientist

Answer 2

Aristotle, 384-322BC

Favoured deduction

Question 3

Induction

Answer 3

General principles from specific observations

Question 4

Deduction

Answer 4

Reasoning from a general rule to a particular situation.

If premise is true, conclusion is true,

Question 5

Ibn al-Haytham

Answer 5

c1950-c1040
Contributed to the scientific method - large amounts of data and experimental conditions (empiricism and systematically varying)

Question 6

Francis Bacon

Answer 6

1561-1626
The cause of the problem should be isolated through inductive reasoning
The father of the scientific method - inductive science

Question 7

David Hume

Answer 7

1711-1771

The problem with induction - each stage assumed the previous observation predicts the next - infinite regress

Question 8

Karl Popper

Answer 8

1902-1994
In agreement with hume, no matter how many successes, theory cannot be confirmed.
If the theory is not falsifiable it is not science