PSYC39H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Behavioural Genetics, Reductionism, Canada Day
PSYC39-Lecture 1- Psychology, Philosophy of Science & Forensics
- Midterm might not be October 16th 5pm-7pm (will probably change)
4 requirements of a Science:
1. Natural law requirement
2. Reductionist language used for definition
3. Inter-Science Consistency requirement
a. This is how people at different levels of science can understand the fundamental
aspect of a fact
4. Empirical test requirement
Thought Experiment:
- What is being studied is empirical and doesn’t reflect any natural law
oThe car experiment thing
oIf doing this experiment during rush hour, there will be replicability, consistency,
etc.
oIf it is a Canada Day Monday or Thanksgiving Monday, all bets are off
oAll these situations are subjective and have nothing to do with the universal law
Illustration:
- Newton’s Second Law of Motion: F=MA
- We have a higher order construct force
oMass is a fundamental measurable element in the Newtonian world
- The organ systems define the organisms, and the organ systems are defined by the
cells
oBiology: ecosystems, organisms, organ systems, cells organelles
oChemistry: macromolecules, molecules
oPhysics: atoms, sub-atomic particles, energy
- There is a physical order that runs the universe
- If one’s car were to break down, they would not have called a physicist (even though
they know the flow of electrons and shit), they would call their mechanic
oBecause now the same information is being used in a different level of science
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Psyc39-lecture 1- psychology, philosophy of science & forensics. Midterm might not be october 16th 5pm-7pm (will probably change) 4 requirements of a science: natural law requirement, reductionist language used for definition. Inter-science consistency requirement: this is how people at different levels of science can understand the fundamental aspect of a fact, empirical test requirement. We have a higher order construct force: mass is a fundamental measurable element in the newtonian world. The organ systems define the organisms, and the organ systems are defined by the cells: biology: ecosystems, organisms, organ systems, cells organelles , chemistry: macromolecules, molecules , physics: atoms, sub-atomic particles, energy. There is a physical order that runs the universe. It requires an applied technological expert and not a theoretical physicist. Problem w describing things upward: psychology uses circularity; uses symptoms to diagnose and not looking for the base reason behind why something is occurring.
