Class notes
Philosophy of Science (POS) Colleges and literature summary
- Course
- Institution
A detailed summary of PoS lectures + literature that will help you with exam preps. Good luck :)
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Aviator
Reviews received
Content preview
Philosophy of ScienceLecture 1
Thinking about science
-> Sloppy science and the case of Diederik Stapel
-> Prominent social psychologist from Tilburg
-> Removed from academia: fraud in 55 papers, including 10 PhD dissertations
Exhibits fraud in four ways
-> Publication bias (failed experiments not published)
-> Lack of replication/reproduction of results
-> Statistical incompetence
-> Lack of research ethics
Why is fraud interesting?
-> Sloppy science challenges the “common-sense” view of science:
-> Scientists look for truth, which means scientific knowledge is objective; external influences should
play no role, science is all about (empirical) evidence.
Objectivity
Presupposes a distinction between objective and subjective points of view
-> Claim: scientific knowledge is objective
-> Prerequisite: clear construction of concepts -> absence of vagueness and ambiguity -> ideal:
establishes clarity/avoids equivocality
To be objective, you need a perspective from either all perspectives or no perspective.
Concepts need to be precise, specified, measurable and free from personal bias
-> Ideal: personal convictions and values play no role
The case of phrenology
-> Study of the mind through trying to measure the skull, because it was assumed that with the weight
of the skull, we could say something about the brain
-> Proposed a modular view of the mind/brain
-> Perpetuated myths about racial and gender differences, intelligence and learning, criminal
tendencies, psychiatric disordered, etc
What can we conclude from sloppy science?
Reasons to look critically at scientific research. First thought eliminates sloppy science, enforce ideals
of objective science.
Geurts text: “is what we do pointless?”
Identifying “causes” and “laws” in psychology and neuroscience isn’t always feasible. Objectivity can
still be problematic even if science isn’t sloppy.
,Philosophy of Science
Is science objective? Is science fail able? Science is objective within some assumptions or standards
people have agreed on, if it is an opinion → then science is definitely the best opinion. Science is
reliable and replicable; this makes it somehow objective. It is acceptable that science is valuable within
a certain sets of standards.
From natural science to social science
Since 16th/17th century: successful natural sciences (Galileo/Newton)
Since the 19th century: society has become the object of research: how to study the society?
Questions to consider:
Is society characterized by causal relations, explanations and theories?
Is society reducible to the individuals that live in it?
Are “subjects” (researchers) standing apart from the “objects of research”?
Smith on insider & outsiders perspective
Insider perspective: we can’t understand a group
unless we’re a part of that group, to understand a
religious group, you should become a part of it.
Opposition: you become biased, “apologetic”
descriptions.
Outsider perspective: preserve objectivity, be an
outsider.
Opposition: too much emphasis on explanation,
false reduction of insider perspective and intrinsic
motivation
.
Solution: stranger perspective
-> Supposed to bring together both
Review:
-> Sloppy science is a threat to the common-sense
ideal of science
-> Sloppy science shows: reflecting on science is necessary
,Philosophy of Science
Central themes of PSS (philosophy of social science):
-> Naturalism: the problem of understanding and explanation in social sciences (can we use the
concept “causality” in society?)
-> Reductionism: the problem of the relation between holism and individualism
-> Normativity: the function of norms, values and rules in the social sciences.
Analysing the four quadrants (Marx, Mill, Wittgenstein, Elster,):
Systems → explanation (Marx)
:
Wittgenstein: understanding, practices.
:
, Philosophy of Science
Elster: actors
:
Schurz’s perspective of the stranger: the bridge between the quadrants
Normativity focuses on
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller Aviator. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.95. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
80796 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now