Scientific Scope

Starter: do you agree with Kant?

Objective: explore the scope of science as an AoK.

Outcomes:

Element: Scope

More recently, the nature of science has been clarified as having the following features:

Scientific knowledge is tentative (subject to change).
Science is empirically based (based on or derived from observation of the natural world).
Science is inferential, imaginative and creative.
Science is subjective and theory laden.
Science is socially and culturally embedded.

You will be allocated one of the following areas to explore.

a. Find an agreed definition of the area you are investigating.

b. Use the 5 points above to structure notes on your allocated area. E.g Identify a change in knowledge in that area. maybe an example of how data is collected.

List1 List 2

Astronomy Astrology

Evolution Creationism

Medicine Acupuncture

Geology Crystology

Zoology Cryptozoology

2. After your initial investigation, you will compare you findings with the corresponding area in the other list e.g. Astronomy will pair up with Astrology and so on.

What similarities & differences do you notice?

3. Organise these cards to help you clarify the difference between science and pseudoscience. Use the scientific method cycle to help you. You can check here and watch the video to support your understanding of the difference.

4. What is falsification and what does is tell us about the scope of science?

5. What does this contribute to your knowledge about why people believe in pseudoscience?

The pattern behind self-deceptionMichael Shermer says the human tendency to believe strange things -- from alien abductions to dowsing rods -- boils down to two of the brain's most basic, hard-wired survival skills. He explains what they are, and how they get us into trouble.

PLENARY: Is this the justification for ToK you were looking for?

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