Slide 4 of 29
Notes:
The World Is Understandable
Things and events in universe occur in patterns comprehensible through study
Using intellect + instruments (extension of senses) can discover patterns in all of nature.
Confidence as scientist that a problem can be addressed.
The rules donít change in different parts of the universe
Scientific Ideas Are Subject To Change
Science is a process for producing knowledge
Two parts
Change in knowledge is inevitable
New observations may challenge prevailing theories
Testing, improving, discarding of theories is part of the game
Cannot get to complete and absolute truth, but can get increasingly accurate approximations for the world and how it works.
Scientific Knowledge Is Durable (mostly)
Modification is more usual than rejection
Relativity and Newtonian physics
Growing confidence in predictions
Science Cannot Provide Complete Answers to All Questions
Beliefs
Morality
Can help understand consequences of actions
