Demarcating science I Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is Popper’s view on subjective conviction in science?
A subjective feeling of conviction can never justify a scientific statement.
What group was associated with logical positivism?
The Vienna Circle, which met from 1924–1936 and focused on meaningful statements in science.
What is ‘verificationism’?
A theory of meaning stating that a sentence is meaningful if it can be empirically verified.
What is the difference between ‘meaningful’ and ‘true’?
A sentence can be meaningful without being true, and false sentences can still be meaningful if they are verifiable.
What is an observation statement?
A statement that can be directly verified through perceptual experience (e.g., “The sun is shining”).
What are theoretical terms, and how are they verified?
Terms like ‘force’ or ‘memory’ that need to be linked to observable phenomena via operational definitions.
What is the ‘deductive-nomological’ model of explanation?
Explaining phenomena by deducing statements from general laws and initial conditions.
What is the problem of induction?
Even strong belief based on repeated observations cannot logically justify universal conclusions.
Why is verifying predictions problematic?
Because confirming a prediction doesn’t necessarily verify the underlying theory.
What did Popper propose instead of induction?
Using deduction to falsify theories—if a predicted observation is false, the theory is refuted.
What is fallibilism?
The belief that we may always be wrong and must remain open to criticism.
What is falsifiability, according to Popper?
The ability of a theory to be tested and potentially refuted by experience.
What are the two meanings of falsifiability in Popper’s work?
(1) A syntactic property—derivable predictions; (2) A critical attitude—actively seeking to test and improve theories.
What does Popper trace as the origins of science’s critical tradition?
Ancient Greece, particularly Thales (~600 BC).
Do observation statements depend purely on perception?
No, they depend on theoretical assumptions and frameworks.
Is falsifiability binary or graded?
Graded—some theories are more falsifiable than others based on precision.
How does science progress, according to Popper?
Through conjectures and refutations, not confirmations.
Do scientists always adopt a falsificationist attitude?
Not always; sometimes they resist refutation and adjust theories with ad hoc explanations.
Are there ‘ultimate statements’ in science?
No, all statements should be testable; science accepts nothing on blind faith.
How is the skeptical regress problem addressed in science?
By accepting theories provisionally and subjecting them to continuous testing instead of seeking ultimate foundations.
Does Popper’s model apply to psychology?
It applies to testable areas (e.g., behaviorism), but not well to vague, unfalsifiable theories like psychoanalysis.
What does Popper’s model overlook in scientific practice?
Social, historical, and creative aspects of science, including funding pressures and paradigm shifts.
Why are negative results important in science?
They help falsify incorrect theories and prevent bias, though often underreported.
According to Dienes, what makes a theory scientific?
Falsifiability—it must make predictions that can be empirically disproven.
