Chapter 8: Measurement
Nature of Measurements (Classification, 2 Conditions)
1. It is possible to classify every single day into one of these several classes (classes exhaustive)
2. No one day could conceivably be classified under two different headings (mutually exclusive)
“…without a good classification most sciences would be unable to progress.”
Partial Orders
1. Asymmetry
2. Transitivity
Simple Orders
1. Asymmetry
2. Transitivity
3. The fact that any two classes can be compared.
Numerical Scales
- Consists of real numbers assigned to the objects under consideration.
“…theories are useless unless we can deduce interesting consequences from them.”
“We thus see that, at present, measurement plays a central role in Science, because by assigning numerical values to various objects or phenomena in nature we are able to incorporate these phenomena in numerical laws. This in turn means that the full machinery of classical Mathematics is applicable. We also find that the emphasis placed on measurement is probably a temporary phenomenon subject to change as Mathematics develops.”
1. It is possible to classify every single day into one of these several classes (classes exhaustive)
2. No one day could conceivably be classified under two different headings (mutually exclusive)
“…without a good classification most sciences would be unable to progress.”
Partial Orders
1. Asymmetry
2. Transitivity
Simple Orders
1. Asymmetry
2. Transitivity
3. The fact that any two classes can be compared.
Numerical Scales
- Consists of real numbers assigned to the objects under consideration.
“…theories are useless unless we can deduce interesting consequences from them.”
“We thus see that, at present, measurement plays a central role in Science, because by assigning numerical values to various objects or phenomena in nature we are able to incorporate these phenomena in numerical laws. This in turn means that the full machinery of classical Mathematics is applicable. We also find that the emphasis placed on measurement is probably a temporary phenomenon subject to change as Mathematics develops.”
Chapter 9: Scientific Explanations
“The basic purpose of Science is to form theories which will explain the facts of our universe.”
Factors
1. We must have general theories.
2. These theories must be well established.
3. We must be in possession of facts which are known independently of the facts to be explained.
4. The fact to be explained must be a logical consequence of the general theories and of the known facts.
An explanation refers to something already known to be true, while a prediction is a commitment to knowing what is going to happen in the future.
“In order to be a good scientist, one must never lose the childish urge of asking “Why”. Even if we know that an answer will only lead to more questions, the scientist never stops asking.”
“Science should never be hampered by philosophical prejudices as to what type of explanations it should use. Any well-established theory is a great asset to Science and is of potential value in explanations. Just what form this theory takes depends on our ingenuity and our imagination. Since the latter are far greater than the former, let us not limit ourselves further by arbitrarily binding our hands in the formation of theories.”
Factors
1. We must have general theories.
2. These theories must be well established.
3. We must be in possession of facts which are known independently of the facts to be explained.
4. The fact to be explained must be a logical consequence of the general theories and of the known facts.
An explanation refers to something already known to be true, while a prediction is a commitment to knowing what is going to happen in the future.
“In order to be a good scientist, one must never lose the childish urge of asking “Why”. Even if we know that an answer will only lead to more questions, the scientist never stops asking.”
“Science should never be hampered by philosophical prejudices as to what type of explanations it should use. Any well-established theory is a great asset to Science and is of potential value in explanations. Just what form this theory takes depends on our ingenuity and our imagination. Since the latter are far greater than the former, let us not limit ourselves further by arbitrarily binding our hands in the formation of theories.”
Chapter 10: What is Science?
The purpose of Science is not to any specific subject matter, but to study the whole field of factual knowledge.
The method scientists use to do Science is the scientific method.
Scientific Method: the cycle of induction, deduction, and verification, and by its eternal search for improvement of theories which are only tentatively held.
“Science is united not by its subject matter, but by its method.”
2 Branches of Subject Matter
1. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology
2. Social Sciences
The method scientists use to do Science is the scientific method.
Scientific Method: the cycle of induction, deduction, and verification, and by its eternal search for improvement of theories which are only tentatively held.
“Science is united not by its subject matter, but by its method.”
2 Branches of Subject Matter
1. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Psychology
2. Social Sciences