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Debates about ScienceIn the fascinating and controversial area of science studies, some hotly debated questions are:
These provocative
questions, and others, will be examined from a variety of perspectives. We'll
look at science through the eyes of scientists, and from the
viewpoints of philosophers, historians, sociologists, psychologists,
educators, and others who study the process and products of science. |
Debates
about Science
Eventually, this area
will offer you a wealth of interesting ideas to explore. Currently,
there is a foundational beginning:
The activities of scientists
build on the logic of scientific
method. The question in many
debates is the influence of cultural-personal
factors (relative to empirical data and logic) on the process and content
of science.
One cause for concern is the
silliness that occurs when a rational idea is
taken to an extreme. For example, the moderate skepticism
in Scientific
Method by Donald Simanek seems logically justifiable, and most scholars (including
myself) agree with most of what he says. But when other people exaggerate
these views — and they often do — there is cause for concern:
Wild controversies
and hot debates! Are some views of science dangerous for
students? Can too much of a good thing be harmful? Which
views are accurate, and which are beneficial? Do scientists
seek the truth? Do they claim proof? Do they create
reality? How can we avoid running off (or being carried
away) to silly extremes? Why is it necessary to ask, Should
the "methods" used by scientists be EKS-Rated? (by Craig
Rusbult, who also has a series of pages about the Philosophy
of Quantum Mechanics and Speculations of New Age Religion)
And there are different views
about Methodological Naturalism in
the area for Questions
about Origins.
I.O.U. — There will be more here later, in late 2008.
All links on this page were checked-and-fixed on June 29, 2006.
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This page — http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/science/debates.htm — is
the
homepage (written by Craig Rusbult) for one sub-area in THE
NATURE OF SCIENCE:
Stories of Science Debates
about Science Christians in
Science