Understanding Science and the Scientific Revolution

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture on science and the scientific revolution.

Science

Knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws, especially as obtained and tested through scientific method.

Empirical Evidence

Information received by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation.

Systematic Inquiry

A structured approach to investigate phenomena, involving the formulation of hypotheses and collecting data to test them.

Natural Sciences

Disciplines that study the physical world, including physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy.

Social Sciences

Disciplines that study individuals and societies, including psychology, sociology, economics, and history.

Formal Sciences

Disciplines that study formal systems governed by axioms and rules, including mathematics, logic, and theoretical computer science.

Applied Sciences

Disciplines that study and apply scientific principles and knowledge, including engineering, medicine, and information science.

Scientific Revolution

A period (16th-18th century) marked by developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry, shifting from religious explanations to empirical science.

Intellectual Activity

A methodical and applied study of the natural and physical world that encompasses observation and experimentation.

Scientific Literacy

The ability to understand and engage with scientific concepts and processes.

Cultural and Intellectual Activity

A form of inquiry that encompasses human culture and the intellectual achievements derived from wide-ranging knowledge.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction or explanation for a phenomenon, based on existing knowledge.