PO217 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Intersubjectivity, Scientific Method, Falsifiability
Document Summary
Normative analysis: based on prescriptive, ideals, and value judgements. (what you believe, how the world should work, however depends on the person) (e. g. should you vote) Empirical analysis: descriptive explanatory, observation, explains what happens and why it happens (e. g. why some people don"t vote) Empiricism: requires that every knowledge claim be based upon systematic observation. In a sense, the scientific method is simply a more sophisticated version of the way we go about making sense of the world around us: We sometimes jump to conclusions on the basis of a handful of observations. Once we have reached a conclusion, we tend to overlook contradictory evidence. When confronted with contradictory evidence, we tend to explain it away be making some additional assumptions. Postulates of science (what are the core beliefs) Knowledge is derived from the acquisition of experience. Can be used to explain and predict. Explanation: the goal of the scientific method is explanation.
