1 Questions and Aims of Philosophy of Science Free Online FlashCards

What does philosophy of science examine?

Philosophy of science examines how science works, what scientific claims mean, and why they deserve—or fail to deserve—confidence.

What is the demarcation question in philosophy of science?

It asks whether one feature or method distinguishes science from non-science, or whether the answer depends on a field’s aims and practices.

What makes evidence relevant to assessing a scientific claim?

Good evidence supports or challenges claims through observations, measurements, experiments, and statistical results; uncertainty and conflicting evidence also matter.

How does a scientific explanation differ from a description?

An explanation accounts for a phenomenon rather than merely describing it. Causal claims also differ from observed correlations.

What are two ways to understand scientific theories and models?

Theories and models may describe reality, offer useful idealizations, or do both; assessing them involves comparing explanations and asking what justifies choosing among rivals.

Why might scientists revise a claim?

Scientific claims may need revision as evidence, criticism, or theories change. Revision is part of how scientific knowledge develops.

What factors can affect objectivity in scientific inquiry?

Researchers’ assumptions, values, institutions, and social perspectives can affect inquiry. Practices that expose or limit bias are relevant to scientific objectivity.

What does scientific practice include?

Scientific practice consists of inquiry activities such as posing questions, investigating, measuring, modeling, analyzing results, criticizing arguments, and communicating findings.

What counts as scientific knowledge?

Scientific knowledge includes claims, explanations, models, and well-supported results produced and refined through scientific practice.

How are scientific practice and knowledge connected?

Practice and knowledge interact: existing knowledge guides investigations, while new evidence and criticism can lead to revisions in knowledge.

Why is there no single fixed scientific method for every inquiry?

There is no single fixed recipe followed identically in every science. Methods vary, and their suitability depends on the question and how claims are tied to evidence and open to evaluation.

What kinds of methods can different scientific investigations use?

Experiments may be central in one investigation, while observations, historical records, or mathematical models may be essential in another.