Scientific discovery and justification (Philosophy of Science)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from today's lecture on scientific discovery and justification in the philosophy of science.

Scientific theory

A framework for understanding some aspect of the world that is subject to empirical validation and widely accepted by the scientific community.

Context of discovery

The creative, social process by which scientific theories and ideas are generated, influenced by biases, culture, and chance.

Context of justification

The rigorous process of evaluating and testing scientific theories to determine their truth and usefulness.

Hypothesis

A testable statement about the world that is consistent with a theory and used to generate predictions.

Prediction

An expected observation derived from a hypothesis, often in an if-then form, that can be tested empirically.

Empirical observation

Information obtained via sense experience and measurement to test predictions.

Induction

Reasoning from observed cases to general conclusions; in science, it does not guarantee truth.

Problem of induction

The challenge that no finite set of observations can conclusively prove a universal generalization; future observations may falsify it; justification can become circular if based on past observations.

Deductive argument

A reasoning form where, if the premises are true, the conclusion follows with logical necessity.

Inductive argument

A reasoning form where the conclusion is supported but not guaranteed by the premises.

Premises

The statements or reasons offered as the basis for a conclusion in an argument.

Syllogism

A classic deductive argument with two premises leading to a conclusion (e.g., All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore Socrates is mortal).

Falsification

Testing a hypothesis by seeking observations that would contradict its predictions; a failure to match data undermines the hypothesis.

Supported hypothesis

A hypothesis whose predictions have repeatedly matched empirical observations, providing evidence in favor of the theory.

Black swan

A decisive counterexample that falsifies a universal generalization (e.g., discovering a black swan falsifies 'All swans are white').

Hypothesis-testing cycle

Process: derive a hypothesis, make predictions, test with empirical data, and assess whether data support or falsify the hypothesis.

Model

A simplified representation used to explain or predict phenomena; in this course, treated as synonymous with a theory.

Law

In this course, a 'law' is treated as a theory—an explanatory framework for understanding and predicting phenomena, not the legal sense.

Empiricism

The view that knowledge arises from sense experience and observation rather than innate ideas.

Kuhn's criteria for good theories

Theories should match observations, be consistent, have broad scope, be simple, and be fruitful (predict new testable phenomena).