dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaOn the Nature of Science
| Authors | B. K. Jennings |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0607241 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0607241 |
| Journal | Physics in Canada, 63 (2007) 7 |
Abstract
A 21st century view of the nature of science is presented. It attempts to show how a consistent description of science and scientific progress can be given. Science advances through a sequence of models with progressively greater predictive power. The philosophical and metaphysical implications of the models change in unpredictable ways as the predictive power increases. The view of science arrived at is one based on instrumentalism. Philosophical realism can only be recovered by a subtle use of Occam's razor. Error control is seen to be essential to scientific progress. The nature of the difference between science and religion is explored.
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"abstract": "A 21st century view of the nature of science is presented. It attempts to\nshow how a consistent description of science and scientific progress can be\ngiven. Science advances through a sequence of models with progressively greater\npredictive power. The philosophical and metaphysical implications of the models\nchange in unpredictable ways as the predictive power increases. The view of\nscience arrived at is one based on instrumentalism. Philosophical realism can\nonly be recovered by a subtle use of Occam\u0027s razor. Error control is seen to be\nessential to scientific progress. The nature of the difference between science\nand religion is explored.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0607241",
"authors": [
"B. K. Jennings"
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"physics.hist-ph",
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"physics.soc-ph"
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"journal_ref": "Physics in Canada, 63 (2007) 7",
"title": "On the Nature of Science",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0607241"
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