Lecture 8 Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is Ontology
A branch of metaphysics concerned with
the nature and relations of being.
OR CHATGPT definiton:
Think of ontology as a way to organize
knowledge. It’s like a big map that helps
us understand how different things
relate to each other. Just like a map
categorizes cities, roads, and landmarks,
ontology categorizes concepts, ideas,
and their relationships.
What is the philosophy of science concerned with?
It focuses on the foundations, methods, and implications of science, asking questions like: What is science? How does it work? What are its goals and limitations?
What distinguishes science from other forms of knowledge?
Science relies on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation, unlike personal experience, faith, or intuition.
List the goals of the philosophy of science.
Critical Thinking - evaluate scientific claims, methodologies, and evidence critically
Epistemological Understanding - how scientific knowledge is generated, validated, and revised
Ethical Awareness - research ethics, conflicts of interest, and the responsible conduct of science.
Scientific Literacy
Innovation and Adaptability - encourages students to think creatively and adaptably
Resilience to Pseudoscience - helps students develop skepticism and discernment
What is epistemology?
The study of the nature and grounds of knowledge, especially concerning its limits and validity.
What is the Scientific method?
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Experiment
- Conclusion
- Results
What is Logical Positivism?
It is a philosophical movement holding that all meaningful statements are either analytic or conclusively verifiable or at least confirmable by observation
and experiment and that metaphysical theories are therefore strictly meaningless
What are Metaphysics
A division of philosophy that is concerned with the fundamental nature of reality and being and that includes ontology, cosmology, and often epistemology
Scientific theories composes of?
Comprehensive explanations of a wide
range of phenomena based on a large
body of evidence.
Not guesses or hypotheses
- substantiated and supported by data,
experiments, and observations.
Dynamic and subject to modification or
refinement as new evidence emerges.
They’re not static but evolve with the
advancement of science.
What are key aspects of “Objective Enquiry”
Empiricism and Rationalism:
* Specific conditions clearly stated
* Reproducible design
* Systematic and transparent data collection
Constructivism:
Logical and bias free interpretation of results
Skepticism:
* Peer review
* Replication
* Confirmation, abandonment or
refinement of theory
What is Empiricism?
The practice of relying on observation
and experiment especially in the
natural sciences
What is Rationalism?
A view that reason and experience rather than the non-rational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems
What is constructivism?
Constructivism is the theory that says
learners construct knowledge rather
than just passively take in information.
As people experience the world and
reflect upon those experiences, they
build their own representations and
incorporate new information into their
pre-existing knowledge
What is Skepticism ?
- An attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object
- a) the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain
b) the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics - Doubt concerning basic religious principles (such as immortality, providence, and revelation)
What is Realism?
Scientific theories accurately
represent reality.
What is Anti - Realism
Scientific theories are only useful
tools for prediction and explanation,
without necessarily reflecting reality.
What is a complex system?
are highly composite ones, built up
from very large numbers of mutually interacting subunits (that are often composites them- selves) whose repeated interactions result in rich, collective behaviour that feeds
back into the behaviour of the individual parts
What is the Philosophy of Science?
It is the branch of philosophy concerned with the foundations, methods, and implications of science—asking questions like what science is, how it operates, and what its limits are
What is metaphysics?
A division of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality and being, including ontology, cosmology, and sometimes epistemology
What is ontology in the context of science?
A branch of metaphysics that focuses on the nature and relationships of being; it organizes how we classify and relate concepts, entities, and experiences
What is epistemology?
The study of knowledge—how we know what we know, its limits, and how it is validated
What is Logical Positivism?
A 20th-century philosophy stating that only statements that are empirically verifiable or logically necessary are meaningful. Metaphysical statements are viewed as meaningless
Why is Logical Positivism considered limiting?
It excludes metaphysical or subjective knowledge, which can be essential in human-centered fields like chiropractic and health sciences.
How does the philosophy of science impact chiropractic?
It encourages chiropractors to critically evaluate methods, evidence, and underlying assumptions while balancing empirical data with vitalistic and metaphysical perspectives.
