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Questions 1-3 on p. 10 of Richards. Plus:
Define the concept of a teleological explanation. How does it differ from contemporary causal explanation?
Why does a heavy object held above the ground fall down when released? Give an Aristotelian teleological explanation of this phenomenon and a causal mechanical explanation.
What was wrong with Aristotelian science according to Francis Bacon?
Discuss how Bacon’s view of the aims and methods of science are different from those of Aristotle. In what ways were Bacon’s and Aristotles’ views of science similar?
How might these differences in aims and methods affect the kind of knowledge claims produced by science?
Define each of the following terms, and give an example: Idols of the Tribe, Idols of the Cave, Idols of the Market Place, Idols of the Theater; the Table of Agreement, the Table of Absence, the Table of Degrees.
How does Robert Hooke’s experiment on animals illustrate Bacon’s conception of the scientific method?
What is meant by an controlled experiment?
How is the requirement of reproducible experimental results related to Bacon’s concept of scientific objectivity?
What is the most important difference between a valid deductive argument and a good inductive argument?
What are two problems facing the use of inductive reasoning in science in discovering and justifying general claims like “all snakes shed their skin”? In your view how can/should scientists respond to these problems, and why?
Could scientists discover and justify current theories of genes or atoms using Bacon’s version of the scientific method? Support your answer.
One of Bacon’s aims was to describe a method for science that would yield objective, presuppositionless knowledge. Did he succeed?
A rose by any other name is just as sweet. Is the giving of names and the act of categorizing scientifically important, or trivial? Discuss from the perspective of both Aristotelian and Baconian science.
Try your hand at Baconian science.
The question: What is the cause of the illness? Using Bacon’s methods, what can you conclude? What presuppositions are assumed in collecting and recording the data? Did you use any presuppositions in drawing your conclusion?
Pat, the R.A. for the 3rd floor of McAllister Dorm, noticed one Tuesday evening at 10:00 that many of the residents from her floor were doubled-over in the restroom with severe cramps, nausea, and other unmentionable symptoms. She decided to get to the bottom of this phenomenon, and collected the following data on 7 students. Sally, Joan, Lou, Barb, and Sue had eaten super at the dorm cafeteria. Meg and Peg had not eaten super at the dorm cafeteria, and were not sick. Sally was sick, and had eaten minestrone soup, jello, a roll, and sausage pizza. Joan was sick, and had eaten a roll, spaghetti and cheese, and the soup. Lou was not sick, and had eaten the jello, roll, and lasagna. Barb was not sick, and had eaten the sausage pizza and orange sherbet. Sue was sick, and had eaten a roll, lasagna, and the soup.