1. Conceptual Physics Notes: Scientific Thinking
The Context for the Scientific Method

2. Scientific Thinking
Questions: How do we know our knowledge of something is correct?
Answer: We cannot know for sure, however, we can know with a degree of certainty by looking objectively at evidence and thinking scientifically.

3. Scientific Thinking Goal of Science Discover reliable knowledge
RK is knowledge that has a high probability of being true
RK is discovered not by proving ideas true but by disproving bad ideas.
Science does not prove anything

4. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
1. Empiricism – the use of empirical evidence
Types of Evidence
Empirical – evidence that can be experienced
Authoritarian – evidence from an expert
Testimonial – eye-witness accounts
Circumstantial – evidence that depends on the circumstance (means, motive, opportunity)

5. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
Types of Evidence
Emotional – evidence derived from feeling
Hearsay – evidence based on secondhand accounts
Spectral – evidence revealed by a ghost or angel

6. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
2. Rationalism – practice of logical thinking
Rationalism…
Draws good conclusions based on good evidence
Puts facts, events, evidence, in the correct order
Is opposite of emotional, hopeful, and wishful thinking

7. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
3.Skepticism: possessing a skeptical attitude
Skepticism…
Continually examines evidences’ reliability
Continually examines different arguments
Continually examines reasons for belief

8. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
Being skeptical…
Does not mean being negative
Means changing ones belief given new information
Requires extraordinary evidence for extraordinary claims

9. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
Summary
Empiricism asks, what is the evidence?
Rationalism asks, what does the evidence mean?
Skepticism asks, does the evidence (data) support the theory (model)

10. Scientific Thinking: The Three components
(Rationalism)
(Empiricism)
Data
Model
(Skepticism)