Scientific Philosophy
[Scientists] do research because they are challened by their problems. Problem solving is the sentral dynamic motif of the individual scienticts activity (Staffen, p185).
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More than anything else, TOE comes down to the the philosophy of science. But what is the philosophy od science? Is it the pursiut of knowledge? Of truth? Or is it the application of that knowledge? What is the purpose of science?
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Science is an activity which takes place in a particular story of tradition. The tradition is essentually centered in a paradigm, or conceptual structure, which has a naturalistic methaphysics and an emperical epistomology (Gale, p79) .
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But what does that mean? For Gale, I think, it ment that science has many purposes. It is neigther the ultimate and devine pursuit of knowledge and truth of the universe, it is also the techical applications of that knowledge. The pursuit of science is man's desire to seek, fins, understand, and manipulate the world around him. The devine pursuit of knowledge is not uncoupled with the practical use of it, turning the philosopher into the technition, but it is neogther the raising nore lowering of either ideals that makes science so complex. It is the way that this parctical philosphy makes it's way into everyday life, and why it is important to understand it.
Nor is this a modern, strickly late twentith century view. As Whelwell put forward in the first volume of his History of Scientific Ieads, science is about the truth and its discovery, and the sharing of that discovery. The essential thoughts are in deriving new and unique knowledge about the world around us. The desire for understanding leads scientists along many paths, and their findings are for everyone. Scientific pursuit is about developing a greater understanding for the world at large.
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When he counts his little wealth, he find that he has in his hands coins which bear the image and superstition of ancient and modern intellectual dynasties; and that in virtue of this posession, acquisitions are in his power, solid knowledge within his reach, which none could ever have attained to, if it were not that the gold of truth, once dug out of the mine, circulates more and more among mankind (p287).