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5 - Science in Practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 September 2023

David B. Teplow
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Summary

This chapter details the practical, theoretical, and philosophical aspects of experimental science. It discusses how one chooses a project, performs experiments, interprets the resulting data, makes inferences, and develops and tests theories. It then asks the question, "are our theories accurate representations of the natural world, that is, do they reflect reality?" Surprisingly, this is not an easy question to answer. Scientists assume so, but are they warranted in this assumption? Realists say "yes," but anti-realists argue that realism is simply a mental representation of the world as we perceive it, that is, metaphysical in nature. Regardless of one's sense of reality, the fact remains that science has been and continues to be of tremendous practical value. It would have to be a miracle if our knowledge and manipulation of the nature were not real. Even if they were, how do we know they are true in an absolute sense, not just relative to our own experience? This is a thorny philosophical question, the answer to which depends on the context in which it is asked. The take-home message for the practicing scientist is "never assume your results are true."

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Science in Practice
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.008
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  • Science in Practice
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.008
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Science in Practice
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.008
Available formats
×