Philosophy of science

Philosophy of Science

Philosophy of Science (pronunciation: /fɪˈlɒsəfi ɒv ˈsaɪəns/) is a branch of philosophy that explores questions regarding science, including the nature and foundations of science, the manner in which science is conducted, the interpretation of scientific results, and the implications of scientific discoveries.

Etymology

The term "Philosophy of Science" is derived from the Greek words "philosophia" (love of wisdom) and "epistēmē" (knowledge, science).

Related Terms

• Empiricism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes the role of experience and evidence, especially sensory perception, in the formation of ideas.
• Rationalism: The philosophical belief that knowledge can be gained independently of sense perception, often through deductive reasoning.
• Positivism: A philosophical system recognizing only that which can be scientifically verified or which is capable of logical or mathematical proof, and therefore rejecting metaphysics and theism.
• Falsifiability: The logical possibility that an assertion can be shown false by an observation or a physical experiment.
• Scientific Method: A method of procedure that has characterized natural science since the 17th century, consisting in systematic observation, measurement, and experiment, and the formulation, testing, and modification of hypotheses.
• Scientific Realism: The view that the universe described by science is real regardless of how it may be interpreted.
• Scientific Revolution: A period of dramatic change in thought and belief, related to the sciences, which took place during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.

See Also

• History of Science
• Sociology of Science
• Epistemology
• Metaphysics

External Links

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