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Introduction to Philosophy of Science (Is Psychology a Science? (Not…
Introduction to Philosophy of Science
Scientific Revolution
Geocentric Model
5 Elements that make up the universe - Air, Water, Fire, Earth, Aether (heavens)
Earth = centre of the universe
Two regions - sub-region (planets) and super-region (stars)
Epicycles = small cycles stars make (as well as orbiting earth)
Aristotle
Heliocentric Model
Earth orbits the sun
Two main features
1 Earth around sun = 1 year
2 Earth spin around own axis 1 day
Criticisms
If earth moves then why, if you throw something up, does it fall in the same place?
Why don't people and objects fly from the earth?
Would the stars not change size as function of earths movement?
Copernicus
Galileo
and Telescope
Evidence for Heliocentric model
More stars than thought
Moon not smooth
Four moons of Jupiter
Sizes of Venus and Mars change
Venus = light/dark at different times to has to be moving round sun
Why is the sun in the centre?
Isaac
Newton
Physical laws governing motion of planets and gravitation
Movements explained by mathematical equations
Descrates
Devision between science and religion
Catesian tradition - logical approach
Dualism - mind = immaterial and independent
Mechanist view - universe = sophisticated machine
Bodies = self perpetuating machine - soul + body = separate
Theory of Cognition (6 passions) - Animal spirits, autonomic reflexes, self-awareness, attention, wakefulness, self-observations
Scientific Methods
Traditional approach
Reasoning
Observations can be deceptive
(conformation bias - choose info that supports)
Bacon
developed scientific method
Systematic observation + reasoning > progress
Experiments to test claims
Standardised for replication
Collect, synthesis, combination
Development of Psychology
Age of Enlightnement
18-19th century
Comte
Knowledge obtained using positivism (scientific method)
Religion and philosophy = inferior
Emergence of Psychology
18-19th century
Darwin
- Natural selection, survival of the fittest
Kant's
ideas of anthropology - self-consciousness, mental processes, emotions (distinction between)
Scientific methods to study human psyche
Psychophysics was established
Stats = developed
Is Psychology a Science?
Merely common sense
Doesn't use scientific methods
Crucial = willingness to root out errors in beliefs, implementation of safeguards against confirmation bias
Psych uses randomised control group, double blind trails, placebo, sophisticated stats techniques
Cannot yield meaningful generalisations
Control for generalisations
Does not yield repeatable results
Hedges
- Psych and physics use similar stats methods
Cannot make precise predictions
Associations often context dependent
Not useful in society
Road safety
Boosting brain power
Beating fear
Supporting each other
Overcoming prejudice
Criminal Justice System
Science and Non-Science
Commonsense views
Facts given to
careful and objective observers via senses
Problems
1 Senses can trick us, perceive things wrong
2 Requires interpretation, theory may change perception of facts, allows focus
3 Non-observable facts, may become observable with time
4 Search = guided by knowledge, unguided without preceding theory (facts precede theory)
Experience, interpretation, error prone, non-observable facts
Facts constitutes
firm and reliable
foundation
Problem = Facts often not theory idenpendent
Inductive reasoning - finite observations > general conc
Repeated observation = probably happen not proof
Inductive reasoning is fallible
Facts =
prior to/independent of theory
Without theory we don't know what/where to look
Middle Ground
Facts = objective bases with subjective component
Claims treated with caution (especially when new)
Be critical
Converging evidence
Theories = continuous improvement
No Distinction?
End 20th C
Postmodernist - science = not special/real
Not realism
Science = social construction
Like religion, voodoo, and astrology