Philosophy of Science Concepts

This set of flashcards covers key concepts, terms, and theories from a lecture on the philosophy of science, focusing on Logical Positivism, scientific methodology, and notable philosophical debates.

Vienna Circle

A group of philosophers and scientists in the 1920s-1930s advocating Logical Positivism, emphasizing empirical verifiability.

Logical Positivism

A philosophy asserting that only statements verifiable through empirical observation are meaningful.

Analytical Claims

Statements that are true by definition; they entail tautological claims.

Synthetic A Posteriori Claims

Claims that are validated through empirical research.

Verifiability Principle

The principle that a statement is meaningful only if it can be empirically judged to be true or false.

Context of Discovery

The historical or accidental situation in which a theory is developed; considered irrelevant in scientific contexts.

Context of Justification

The logical and evidential reasons used to accept scientific theories.

Deductive-Nomological Model

A model for explaining phenomena that includes lawlike propositions, conditions, and the phenomenon to be explained.

Humean Problem of Induction

The issue that future observations may not conform to past generalizations; observations can justify only singular statements.

Instrumentalism

The philosophical view that the value of a law is based on its predictive effectiveness, regardless of its correctness.

Confirmationism

The idea that certainty is replaced with probabilistic support in justifying laws.

Operationalization

The process of defining how abstract theoretical concepts will be measured using observable indicators.

Keynes vs Tinbergen Debate

Keynes criticized Tinbergen’s econometric model for its lack of testing rigor and reliance on assumptions.

Haavelmo’s Problem

The difficulty of establishing causal relationships in economics due to the inability to isolate the economy in laboratory conditions.

Naive Model

A simplified economic model used to set benchmarks for predictions against more complex models.

Falsifiability

The criterion for scientific theories, which states that a theory can only be considered scientific if it can be tested and potentially disproven.

Kuhn's Paradigm

A framework for scientific practice that dictates research models and approaches within normal science.

Anomaly

An observation or result that contradicts the expectations of a scientific paradigm.

Incommensurability

The idea that competing paradigms cannot be easily compared due to differing standards and languages.

Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SSK)

An approach that studies science as a social phenomenon, focusing on how scientific practices shape knowledge.

Social Constructivism

The theory that scientific knowledge is constructed through social mechanisms and interactions.

Merton's Norms

Four essential scientific values: universalism, organized skepticism, unselfishness, and communism that guide scientific practice.

Rhetorical Approach

A methodology focusing on argumentation and persuasion in scientific discourse.

Epistemological Pluralism

The acceptance of multiple forms of knowledge, which may be incomparable or inconsistent.

Methodological Pluralism

The principle that various methodological approaches should be promoted to enrich scientific inquiry.

Postmodernism

A movement that challenges traditional scientific assumptions and promotes diverse interpretations of knowledge.

The naturalistic turn

A more descriptive methodology that adapts to the actual empirical practices of modern science.