Join with a free account for more service, or become a member for full access to exclusives and extra support of WorldSupporter >>
IBP Psychology and Science- Methodical changes in method (ch11)
IBP Psychology and Science
Chapter 11: Methodical changes in method
Against universal method:
- We can sustain Feyerabend’s case against method, as long as we get rid of the idea that the notion of method is to be thrown out
- Feyerabend: there is no universal, ahistorical method of science that contains standards that all sciences should live up to if they are to be worthy of the title ‘science’
- Universal: the proposed method is applicable to all sciences
- Ahistorical: here means that the method has a timeless character
- Chalmers: We could also say that there are methods and standards in science, but that they can vary from science to science, and can, within a science, be changed
- Worrall: if Chalmers wants to defend a change in scientific method in a way that avoids extreme relativism, then he should show in what way this change would be for the better
- But what is “better”?
Telescopic for naked-eye data: a change in standards:
- Galileo found that if we use our eyes, there is a hindrance when looking at small, bright, distant light sources against a dark background, called irradiation.
- Irradiation can be removed by using a telescope
- Galileo used straightforward, practical demonstration to show that our naked eye isn’t always the best source of information
- Through convincing of his rivals, Galileo started the trend of replacing sense-observations with data acquirement through the use of instruments, which was at its very core a violation of what was up until then considered a main criterion for ‘science itself’
- He convinced his opponents by focusing on common ground: there was overlap in what they aimed for, like wanting to describe the motions of the heavenly bodies supported by by empirical evidence. Observations he shared with his opponents were sufficient to convince them
Aim of science
- The goal is to arrive at ultimate explanations – which are explanations so down to the core that they themselves do not need any explanation; they are selfexplanatory in the state that they present themselves in
- The general idea is that any part of these aims, methods, standards, theories, and observational facts that make up a science can be changed in a progressive manner.
- We should not change everything at once, because then we have nothing to stand on
- The idea that rival scientists live in such different worlds that they share no views does not occur in real life. If it were, there would be no progress to science. There is no need for a universal, ahistorical account of scientific method to be able to give an objective account of progress in science, as well as how the method could be changed for the better.
Resources:
What is This Thing Called Science 4th Edition (CHALMERS)
Access:
Public
Click & Go to more related summaries or chapters
Psychology and Science
Psychology and Science bundle
Summaries and supporting content:
Access:
Public
Work for WorldSupporter
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
Check how to use summaries on WorldSupporter.org
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
How and why would you use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?
- For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
- For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
- For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
- For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
- For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Starting pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the topics and taxonomy terms
- The topics and taxonomy of the study and working fields gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Check or follow your (study) organizations:
- by checking or using your study organizations you are likely to discover all relevant study materials.
- this option is only available trough partner organizations
- Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
- by following individual users, authors you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Use the Search tools
- 'Quick & Easy'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject.
- The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance
Field of study
- All studies for summaries, study assistance and working fields
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Comments, Compliments & Kudos:
Add new contribution