Chapter 3: Assumptions
There are fundamental questions a scientist must ask himself before he starts his work:
1. Can we really assume that such universal laws exist?
2. Is there a Law of Nature?
3. Is it possible to learn a law exactly? A good approximation of it? An approximation as closely as we wish?
4. Are these laws independent of time? Are they continuous? Do we live in a space of three dimensions? Is nature uniform?
The laws of nature are tautological. They are only records of events through time.
1. Can we really assume that such universal laws exist?
2. Is there a Law of Nature?
3. Is it possible to learn a law exactly? A good approximation of it? An approximation as closely as we wish?
4. Are these laws independent of time? Are they continuous? Do we live in a space of three dimensions? Is nature uniform?
The laws of nature are tautological. They are only records of events through time.
Chapter 4: Probability
Two and a half schools of thought
Theory of Probability: branch of Mathematics that develops the following statements:
1. Statements based on frequencies (Hans Reichenbach)
2. Statements about how certain we are that something will happen (Bertrand Russell, Ernst Nagel, Rudolph Carnap). Degrees of belief.
3. Quantum Theory – (Heisenberg Principle)
3 Types of Roles of Probability Statements
1. Statistical theories make heavy use of them.
2. All measurements are subject to error.
3. When we assert a statement, we have to assign some degree of credibility to it.
Referring to the Quantum Theory dispute…
“Scientific matters are never decided by majority vote. But it is equally important to point out that scientific questions are not settled by a priori arguments, whether these arguments are presented by philosophers or scientists. This is purely scientific issue – an issue which must await the development of Science.”
Theory of Probability: branch of Mathematics that develops the following statements:
1. Statements based on frequencies (Hans Reichenbach)
2. Statements about how certain we are that something will happen (Bertrand Russell, Ernst Nagel, Rudolph Carnap). Degrees of belief.
3. Quantum Theory – (Heisenberg Principle)
3 Types of Roles of Probability Statements
1. Statistical theories make heavy use of them.
2. All measurements are subject to error.
3. When we assert a statement, we have to assign some degree of credibility to it.
Referring to the Quantum Theory dispute…
“Scientific matters are never decided by majority vote. But it is equally important to point out that scientific questions are not settled by a priori arguments, whether these arguments are presented by philosophers or scientists. This is purely scientific issue – an issue which must await the development of Science.”