Join with a free account for more service, or become a member for full access to exclusives and extra support of WorldSupporter >>
Is observation a practical intervention? - Chapter 2
Perception: passive and private or active and public?
Passive perception is the view that one only has to open one's eyes or just look at something to see. This is a private matter because the meaning is interpreted for oneself. This is an unreliable conception of perception. Observation takes place actively in daily life. People often have to make an effort to observe. This is done, for example, by accommodating the eyes or listening 'sharply' with the ears. A person who perceives actively performs all kinds of actions; many automatically and unconsciously to determine whether an observation is valid. Even if someone looks at something, but is not sure whether he sees it through a glass window or if the image he sees is reflected in that glass, he will show active behavior to investigate whether or not that image is a reflection. Tools can be used to prevent perception from having a harmful effect on the truth. As a result, subjective unreliable differences in perception can be minimized. These tools are accessible to everyone and therefore public. The challenge in science is to organize an observable situation in such a way that confidence in certain claims is minimized.
How did Galileo objectify his observations?
Galileo is famous for manufacturing the first telescope and using it to observe things that had never been observed before. Initially, he was discredited by his contemporaries. However, after his opponents had learned how to use the telescope, they realized that Galileo was right. Galileo, therefore 'objectified' his observations. One can, therefore, observe better with objects. Some objects can also help us see things that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Although Galileo could not prove that he was able to perceive reality, his arguments were much more likely than the prevailing views that the moons of Jupiter were illusionary.
Why are observable facts fallible?
Observations that are suitable for forming a basis for scientific knowledge are both objective and fallible. Objectivity implies that they can be tested by anyone and each person would get the same result. Observable facts are imperfect and therefore fallible. An observation is never 'complete'; there will always be an 'open end' until the current observation is improved by another observation.
Access:
Public
Click & Go to more related summaries or chapters
Contributions: posts
Help other WorldSupporters with additions, improvements and tips
Spotlight: topics
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 and 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
Follow the author: kategough
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
Statistics
| 2527 |
Add new contribution