How would you define science?

Science The systematic use of observations to study the physical universe.

Systematic Methodical in procedure Marked by thoroughness

Observations An act of recognizing and noting a fact by using one’s senses

Study A careful examination or analysis of a phenomenon

Physical universe For this biology class: The living organisms plus the abiotic factors and the physical laws the organisms are constrained by.

Science A body of facts that man has gathered by observing the physical universe.

Fact Something that is true

What is truth? How does one go about determining what is true? Can scientists actually determine what is true? Let’s look at some biological examples from history.

1. Publicly accepted behavior? Doctrine of Humors Hippocrates

2. Methods that work? Doctrine of Signatures Babylonians Liverwort

3. Repeated observations? Spontaneous generation John Needham

4. Logic? Arriving at a conclusion through a series of ordered steps John Baptist van Helmont

5. Deductive reasoning? Beginning with known facts and predicting a new fact Aristotle #1: All men are mortal #2: Socrates is a man #3: Socrates is mortal Plants #1: All mums are short-day plants #2: This plant is a mum #3: If given extended periods of darkness, this plant will bloom

6. Faith?

7. The word of God? John 14:6 3 sources of God’s revelation to man “I am…the truth…” 3 sources of God’s revelation to man Bible – 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 Nature – Romans 1:20 Inner witness (conscience)