Philosophy of Science (IB)

These flashcards contain important themes from Philosophy of Science, such as key theories, principles, and philosophers. They are intended to assist students learn and memorize key concepts for their IB Philosophy HL exams.

Philosophy of Science

Philosophy of Science

The branch of philosophy that examines the foundations, methods, and implications of science.

Empiricism

Emphasizes knowledge from sensory experience.

Rationalism

Emphasizes reason and knowledge derived from intellectual analysis.

Scientific Method

Steps include Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation, Analysis, and conclusion.

Falsifiability

A theory is scientific if it can be proven false.

Logical Positivism

A movement using logic and mathematics to make philosophy more rigorous.

Paradigm Shifts

Changes in scientific progress.

Metaphysical Aspects

Focus on the nature of scientific entities and their relation to reality.

Epistemological Aspects

Concerned with what counts as scientific knowledge and how it is justified.

Semantic Aspects

Address the meaning of scientific terms and how theories describe the world.

Bioethics

The study of ethical issues in biological and medical research.

Scientific Misconduct

Unethical behavior in scientific research like fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism.

Who is Karl Popper?

A philosopher known for his theory of falsifiability.

What did Thomas Kuhn propose?

The concept of scientific paradigms and revolutions.

What is inductive reasoning?

Deriving general principles from specific observations.

What is deductive reasoning?

Drawing specific conclusions from general principles.

Define scientific realism.

The belief that scientific theories describe the world as it is.

What is scientific anti-realism?

The view that scientific theories do not necessarily reflect reality.

What is the demarcation problem?

The challenge of distinguishing between science and non-science.

What is the role of ethics in science?

Ensuring scientific practices and applications are morally responsible.

Define empirical evidence.

Information obtained through observation or experimentation.

What is the theory-ladenness of observation?

The idea that observations are influenced by existing theories.

What is underdetermination?

The concept that evidence alone cannot determine which theory is correct.

What did Immanuel Kant contribute to the philosophy of science?

He proposed that our understanding of the world is shaped by our mental structures.