[MD] Metaphysics

[Krimel]

Mark,
Right, the scientific method is a refinement of our natural tendency to:

Check it out
Mess with it and
See what happens.

Doing this helps us reduce uncertainty. I would add that prayer and ritual
also help us reduce uncertainty. But have we have come to rely on the
inductive method because is produces more reliable predictions. It is rather
like John Dillinger's observation that, "You can get more with a simple
prayer and a Thompson sub-machine than you can get with a simple prayer
alone."

It is always about reducing uncertainty or to put it another way, finding
meaning.

Krimel

----------------------------------------------------
> [Marsha]
> I think I remember that Einstein used Riemannian geometry in the general
> theory of relativity. 
> Is the general theory of relativy science? 
> 
> [Krimel]
> It is a work of theoretical physics.

Marsha:
I guess you are saying that theoretical physics, Einstein's general theory 
of relativity, is not science because it uses deductive logic which is not 
the basis of the scientific method. 

[Krimel]
Scientists employ any means they wish to construct a theory or a hypothesis.
They can use induction or deduction. They can see it in a dream or get it
from a Ouija board. But, the theory has to be testable, It needs to offer
some improvement in our understanding or our ability to make predictions.
That is, a new theory has to improve our ability to reduce uncertainty.
Einstein's theory offered predictions about certain observable events that
differed from Newton's theory.
[Mark]
Marsha,
What you seem to be asking is what is the scientific method.  As Krimel
suggests, one
of the results of the scientific method is predictability.  In hindsight one
could say
that if predictability results, a scientific method was used.  This kind of
explanation
is useful for illumination purposes.  Another way to view it, is that the
scientific method is really just an elaborate extension of what we all do
every day.
When you put your hand in the shower to see if it is warm enough, that is
the
scientific method.  The science is predicting that at a certain interval the
water will
become warm enough to get in.  To become more scientific about it, you would
time the interval that it takes to get warm with a watch.  If you pay
attention, then
you may notice that it takes longer if it is cold outside.  So, you have to
introduce
a new variable, that is the temperature outside.  Also the rate of warming
depends
on how fast the water is flowing.  As the detail of these observations grow,
the
predictability gets better.  This is no different from other empirical
studies, they
just get more and more complicated.  Measurement, prediction, measurement
prediction, introduction of new variable, prediction, measurement, test for
accuracy.

Those that are good at this, compile many of these variables in their heads
without
knowing it and can take jumps.  They can amalgamate seemingly unrelated
observations
and bring them into the equation.  These genius leaps mark a good scientist,
and
are similar to genius leaps in art, sports, and, yes, even religion.
 Einstein was
able to do this with general relativity.  However to do so he had to go
against
conventional thinking.  This is also the mark of a creative scientist, which
are periodically needed to bridge seemingly wrong data.  Many of Einstein's
predictions took years to prove afterwards.  He based much of his
science on math, which has a remarkable property of predicting what
we observe.  The trick is trying to understand what the equations mean
in the real world, and whether they are useful.  An infinite number of
equations can be formulated, only a few are useful.  An intuitive
grasp of the right choice is needed as it gets more complicated.

So, there is nothing mysterious about the scientific method, you use
it all the time.

Cheers,
Mark










_______________________________________________________________________

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars... 







Moq_Discuss mailing list
Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
Archives:
http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/

Moq_Discuss mailing list
Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
Archives:
http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/


Moq_Discuss mailing list
Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc.
http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org
Archives:
http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/
http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/