BIOL 112 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Current Lecture I Philosophy of Biology Science II Limitations to Our Understanding of Universe III Aids to Understanding IV Scientific Method V Elements of Science VI Limitations of Science Current Lecture I Philosophy of Biology Science Epistemology the study of knowledges and its limits How do we know what we know and how do we learn more We get information from the universe through our senses II Limitations to Our Understanding of Universe 1 Limitations of the senses Our sensory system cannot completely input everything 2 Limitations of brain to process information Our brain can filter out what it finds important thus limiting the amount of information coming in 3 Biases of Psychology Language Culture Cannot directly perceive or understand ALL of universe and human experience III Aids to Understanding Human cultures have several mental tools to assist understanding of universe Religion ancient Philosophy 4th Century B C E Art ancient at least 40th Century B C E physical art theater literature These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Science 16th Century C E more recent compared to the others All are valid for understanding interpreting various aspects of human experience All have particular strengths and limitations and are complementary to one another An individual must use a combination of these approaches to get a balanced view of the world Can t just use one without the other One of these isn t necessarily the best either This is the basis for the core curriculum of modern college education IV Scientific Method A mental tool a way of thinking allows us to build models of the universe to understand its actions and predict its behavior Makes use of two kinds of mental activity Facts Data Information Observations the solid part of collecting information Interpretations Theories Meaning Understanding the important part of science the creative process V Elements of Science Assumptions are needed to do science Universe is material exists only as matter or energy No supernatural God angels ghosts etc doesn t mean this doesn t exist but science can t analyze non material phenomena Universe is logical cause effect chains can be established The Universe can be analyzed Are these assumptions valid Success of the scientific method is expressed in our technological society In a practical sense science has been very useful in the past so something must be going right Therefore assumptions are good VI Limitations of Science 1 Cannot establish ideal behavior for humans in society What people should do Philosophy Religion Sociology is the science of what people in societies are doing not necessarily what they should be doing 2 Cannot prove or deny existence of deity or soul or other metaphysical entities these are supernatural and cannot be manipulated cannot be analyzed Religion Science fails as an effective tool to make sense of anything in religion
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