What is science? George Matthews CC 2017 

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“Any sufficiently complex technology is indistinguishable from magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke 

What is science? 

What is science? a set of practices 

What is science? a set of practices ! observation 

What is science? a set of practices ! observation ! classification 

What is science? a set of practices ! observation ! classification ! experimentation 

What is science? a set of practices ! observation ! classification ! experimentation ! peer review 

What is science? a set of practices ! observation ! classification ! experimentation ! peer review ! publication 

What is science? an attitude 

What is science? an attitude ! See for yourself. 

What is science? an attitude ! See for yourself. ! Check the results carefully. 

What is science? an attitude ! See for yourself. ! Check the results carefully. ! Consider alternative explanations. 

What is science? an attitude ! See for yourself. ! Check the results carefully. ! Consider alternative explanations. ! Be willing to change your mind. 

What is science? a body of knowledge 

What is science? a body of knowledge ! Physical Sciences 

What is science? a body of knowledge ! Physical Sciences ! Life Sciences 

What is science? a body of knowledge ! Physical Sciences ! Life Sciences ! Social Sciences 

What is science? a body of knowledge ! Physical Sciences ! Life Sciences ! Social Sciences ! History, Linguistics, Philosophy 

What is science? a body of knowledge ! Physical Sciences ! Life Sciences ! Social Sciences ! History, Linguistics, Philosophy ! Mathematics, Computer Science 

What is science? a world view 

What is science? a world view ! Nature is basically intelligible. 

What is science? a world view ! Nature is basically intelligible. ! There are no hidden causes. 

What is science? a world view ! Nature is basically intelligible. ! There are no hidden causes. ! Our needs and wants have no bearing on what is true. 

What is science? a set of practices an attitude a body of knowledge a world view 

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Some Philosophical Questions If science rests on a skeptical attitude towards everything assumed to be true, why should we ever trust what scientists claim to be true? 

Some Philosophical Questions If science rests on a skeptical attitude towards everything assumed to be true, why should we ever trust what scientists claim to be true? How can we distinguish between appearance and reality when we can only ever experience the way things appear to us? 

Some Philosophical Questions If science rests on a skeptical attitude towards everything assumed to be true, why should we ever trust what scientists claim to be true? How can we distinguish between appearance and reality when we can only ever experience the way things appear to us? How can we ever reach an understanding of the way things really are, when each of us only has a limited perspective? 

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reason and norms I may feel a very strong impulse to do it, but should I follow my impulses? 

reason and norms I may feel a very strong impulse to do it, but should I follow my impulses? My eyes suggest that this is the way things are, but should I believe my eyes? 

reason and norms I may feel a very strong impulse to do it, but should I follow my impulses? My eyes suggest that this is the way things are, but should I believe my eyes? Reason is normative since it tells us what we should do and believe.