Getting to Getting to Know ScienceKnow Science

or what or what scientists do…scientists do…

What is Science?What is Science?

1. A body of knowledge 1. A body of knowledge : A set of facts & : A set of facts & theories that explain theories that explain observations made.observations made.

2. 2. AA particular way particular way of thinking, e.g. of thinking, e.g. that being of that being of skeptical.skeptical. Being Being skeptical means skeptical means questioning questioning claims and claims and demanding demanding evidence. evidence.

Scientists are rational skeptics.

The Danger of Being too The Danger of Being too SkepticalSkeptical

An accountant, a mathematician An accountant, a mathematician and a scientist were traveling and a scientist were traveling through Scotland when they through Scotland when they saw a black sheep through the saw a black sheep through the window of the train.window of the train.

"Aha", says the accountant, "I see "Aha", says the accountant, "I see that Scottish sheep are black."that Scottish sheep are black."

"Hmm", says the mathematician, "Hmm", says the mathematician, "You mean that some Scottish "You mean that some Scottish sheep are black, probably half".sheep are black, probably half".

"No", says the scientist, "All we "No", says the scientist, "All we know is that there is at least know is that there is at least one sheep in Scotland, and that one sheep in Scotland, and that at least one side of that one at least one side of that one sheep is black!"sheep is black!"

3. A particular 3. A particular approach or approach or way of way of solving solving problems.problems.

4. It is 4. It is whatever’s whatever’s being done being done by scientists by scientists and and institutions institutions doing doing scientific scientific activity.activity.

What science is not…What science is not…

1. It’s primary goal is not just the accumulation of facts. “Science is facts. Just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts.

But a pile of stones is not a house and a collection of facts is not science.”

b. Scientific b. Scientific knowledge is NOT knowledge is NOT a collection of a collection of TRUTHS. There TRUTHS. There are no are no universaluniversal, , absoluteabsolute, and , and unchangeableunchangeable truths in science.truths in science.

This makes This makes Science different Science different (and separate) (and separate) from Religion.from Religion.

c. Science does c. Science does NOT propose to NOT propose to solve all of the solve all of the world’s world’s problems. problems. AIDS…

Cancer…Global warming…

Pollution…World

peace…Poverty…

Terrorism…

Which of the followiWhich of the followingng is a is a Science?Science?

a.a. AgricultureAgriculture

b.b. ReligionReligion

c.c. Fashion DesignFashion Design

d.d. AstrologyAstrology

e.e. AstronomyAstronomy

f.f. FootballFootball

ConsistencyConsistency

ObservabilityObservability

NaturalNatural

PredictablePredictable

TestableTestable

TentativenessTentativeness

Science meets all of these criteria…

……one of the ways one of the ways scientists investigate scientists investigate solutions to a problem.solutions to a problem.

…is experimental in nature.

A hypothesis is called an intelligent

guess.

1.1. Science can’t answer questions Science can’t answer questions about value.about value.

2.2. Science can’t answer questions Science can’t answer questions about morality [whether about morality [whether something is good or bad, right something is good or bad, right or wrong].or wrong].

3.3. Finally, science can’t help us with Finally, science can’t help us with questions about the questions about the supernatural.supernatural.

Can SCIENCE answer these Can SCIENCE answer these questions?questions?

1.1.Is abortion wrong?Is abortion wrong?

2.2.Is the Earth only 6000 years Is the Earth only 6000 years old?old?

3.3.Do ghosts exist?Do ghosts exist?

4.4.Is my dress prettier than hers?Is my dress prettier than hers?

5.5.Was van Gogh a better painter Was van Gogh a better painter than Leonardo da Vincithan Leonardo da Vinci??

Finally…..Finally…..Scientists do NOT accept Scientists do NOT accept

new claims based on…new claims based on…

a.a. AUTHORITYAUTHORITY

b.b. FORCEFORCE

c.c. CONSENSUSCONSENSUS

How do we know How do we know the Earth is round?the Earth is round?• Our parents told us. Our parents told us.

• Our teachers told us. Our teachers told us.

• Our minister told us. Our minister told us.

• Oprah said so.Oprah said so.

• Our textbook told us.Our textbook told us.