1. Emergence of Modern Science
NS 1300 – Spring 2010
Dr. Hoge

2. Why Study Science?
We live in a technological society brought about by scientific inquiry

3. Why Study Science?
Science encourages discovery and a healthy skepticism.

4. History of Science
Aristotle
Shen Kuo
Ibn al-Haytham
Francis Bacon

5. Philosophy of Science
Plato
Descartes
Locke
Popper
Kuhn
Feyerabend

6. Explanation Logic Cause and Effect Levels of Understanding Tautology
Reductionism

7. Natural Philosophy Exploration A Gentleman’s Pastime Alchemy
Chain of Being

8. Modern Science
Galileo
Newton
Boyle
Darwin
Einstein

9. Scientific Method
Hypothetico-Deductive Model

10. The Keys to Science Falsifiability Inquiry Inductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Controlled Experimentation

11. Scientific Theory
Observations (facts)
Laws
Data
Predictions

12. Tools of Science Experimentation Mathematical Modeling Technology
Laboratory
Field
Mathematical Modeling
Technology
Social Context

13. Science is a Social Process
Communication of Results
Argument
Social Context
Public Need
Public Discourse
Science in the News

14. Areas of Science
Pure Science
Applied Science

15. Branches of Science Physical Sciences Earth Sciences
Physics
Chemistry
Cosmology / Astronomy
Earth Sciences
Geology
Oceanography
Meteorology
Planetary Science
Environmental Sciences
Biogeochemistry
Climate Studies
Life Sciences
Biology (microbiology, cell biology, zoology, botony, etc.)
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology / Sociobiology
Behavioral Sciences (anthropology, archaeology, sociology, psychology)

16. Unifying Theories Thermodynamics Evolution Plate Tectonics
General Relativity / Special Relativity
Quantum Mechanics
Big Bang / Inflation
Standard Model (supersymmetry)

17. A Single Unified Theory?
Quantum Mechanics
Measurement Problem
Quantum Jump
Special Relativity / General Relativity
String Theory / M Theory
Loop Quantum Gravity

18. What Science Isn’t – Part I
Engineering
Mathematics
Technology
Philosophy

19. What Science Isn’t – Part II
Pseudoscience
Mystical Thinking
Consilience

20. Quiz 1. T or F, Ibn al-Haytham was one of the earliest scientists.
2. T or F, falsifiability is a key to the scientific method.
3. T or F, pure science produces technology we can use right away.
4. T or F, plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology.
5. T or F, mystical thinking is good science.