Questions tagged [philosophy-of-science]
for applied philosophical questions about the study of science, the pursuit of scientific knowledge, and the scientific method
1,735
questions
1
vote
1
answer
98
views
Are we too quick to assume that the most recent evidence is inevitably the strongest?
In what contexts is this true and in what contexts can this be considered true and vice versa? Personally, I think it has a lot to do with confirmation bias, especially in natural sciences where for ...
- 11
1
vote
5
answers
94
views
Does Multi-World Interpretation really eliminate randomness in quantum mechanics?
As I understood it, the Multi World Interpretation (MWI) was meant to avoid the problem of resorting to randomness, by replacing the random wavefunction collapse in Copenhagen Interpretation with ...
1
vote
1
answer
47
views
What is the relation between idealism and science?
My understanding of idealism is that it rests on the primacy of the mind and conscience over matter. The Encyclopædia Britannica provides the following "basic" forms of idealism:
The two ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
62
views
Are the mass ,diameter and age of the Universe absolute quantities?
Mass of the observable Universe is known to be 1.50×10^53 kg. Age is approximately known to be 13.7 billion years. Universe is a sphere with diameter 8.8X 10^26 m.
Mass,Length intervals and Time ...
- 1,841
0
votes
5
answers
121
views
Are atomic particles abstract objects?
By "atomic particle", I mean everything from molecules to quarks---objects that are outside the realm of normal experience but used in physics and chemistry to explain macroscopic events.
By ...
- 7,444
0
votes
2
answers
71
views
Is it theoretically possible to create Universe in the lab? [closed]
If the universe took birth without the help of consciousness then is it theoretically possible to create a Universe in the lab ? If yes , how is this created Universe will be different from multiverse ...
- 1,841
1
vote
2
answers
56
views
What does Hume think about Occam's razor?
Let's define Occam's razor as this:
That it is not rational to believe something unnecessary or extra about reality without a specific reason to believe it. In other words, the facts that are ...
- 162
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Does Hume propose that causes might actually just be explained by coincidence?
Does Hume propose that what people interpret as casual connections could instead be explained by coincidence?
I want to know if this is an accurate understanding.
Hume says something to the effect of:
...
- 162
1
vote
2
answers
42
views
Hume says we can't determine a causal connections between objects. Why separate the system into objects at all?
A summary of Hume's perspective is as follows:
When we reason about matters of fact to reach new conclusions, we use cause and effect: when a dropped ball hits the ground (observation), it bounces (...
- 162
2
votes
1
answer
54
views
Does the unobserved past exist in a super position
Does the unobserved past exist in a super position in the sense of quantum mechanics? Has anyone seen this question asked before? If the question is meaningful, what answer seems most likely. If the ...
- 21
2
votes
3
answers
245
views
Does knowledge of the scientific context aid consideration of philosophical questions?
Some fundamental philosophical questions are posed in the context of quantum physics. Does knowledge of the science aid consideration of these questions? Should the scientific background be explained ...
- 1,485
1
vote
1
answer
66
views
Does the possibility of incommensurable degrees of explanatory complexity hypothetically undermine appeals to Occam's razor?
There is an SEP article on the proposed incommensurability of at least some conflicting pairs of scientific theories, which goes over Kuhnian and Feyerabendian proposals regarding this ...
- 12.2k
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
Is necessary existence a property?
If existence is not a property then doesn't it follow that necessary existence is also not a property? If it is then why?
- 77
1
vote
7
answers
2k
views
Are we lost in the details?
A hypothesis.
https://theworld.org/stories/2021-05-20/imagining-gaia-earth-one-great-living-organism
Simply put, the Gaia hypothesis says that Earth is a living system and uses similar mechanisms that ...
- 1,457
8
votes
5
answers
590
views
Falsifiability of Assumptions
Karl Popper maintained that empirical sciences should be based on the principle of falsifiability rather than verifiability for no amount of observations can guarantee veracity but a single ...
- 430
5
votes
4
answers
260
views
Must physics obey logic?
Must all physical theories conform to the laws of logic, such as being self-consistent? I am asking this because I once had an argument with a friend regarding the physics of time travel. I argued ...
- 5,446
2
votes
1
answer
60
views
Does anything have an objective purpose?
Does anything have an objective purpose? For example, maybe the purpose of eyes is to see. Or, is all purpose subjective? My guess is that nothing has an objective purpose, because the concept of ...
- 5,446
0
votes
4
answers
138
views
Does the existence of a probability distribution in quantum mechanics imply that each measurement has a reason?
The evolution of the wave function which is determined by Schrödinger’s equation, is said to evolve deterministically.
The wave function represents the probability distribution of potential ...
- 8,214
4
votes
4
answers
580
views
How to understand the notion of majority when comparing infinite sets?
Suppose I make the argument:
It is very unlikely that in a naturalistic universe, the constants have life sustaining values, since the majority of metaphysically possible universes do not have such ...
- 203
0
votes
4
answers
233
views
Is there a reason for why the wave function for a particle is the way it is?
I have read that in quantum mechanics, predicting the position of an electron, say in the double slit experiment is impossible. It is thus then implied that there is no reason for the electron to end ...
- 8,214
8
votes
12
answers
4k
views
On the claim that science is an offspring of Christian thought?
The claim that science is an offspring of Christian thought is often made in Christian-atheist debates. Theists argue that Christianity provided the necessary foundation for science to develop, such ...
- 1,926
0
votes
2
answers
67
views
Do we agree that true knowledge comes from thinking? [closed]
Reality doesn’t seem to be same as it appears to be. For example - Quantum mechanics says that matter is governed by some kind of wave with the wavelength given by de Broglie’s equation.
Do ...
- 1,841
0
votes
2
answers
103
views
Is there a struggle in consciousness for evolution? [closed]
Evolution of species from monkey to human is due to gene modifications.
Is there any iota of hint that evolution is guided by the struggle in the consciousness?
For example - There can be a struggle ...
- 1,841
1
vote
2
answers
53
views
Is my conjecture about difference between AI and NI correct? [closed]
My conjecture is that AI can only run on electricity , whereas NI (natural intelligence) can only run on organic food.
If my conjecture is correct then given the food source I can differentiate ...
- 1,841
3
votes
2
answers
299
views
The Likelyhood Principle and Baysean Statistics
I am reading Kotzen's paper Selection Bias in Likelihood Arguments.
The author takes the following principle as a starting point:
I'm confused as to how to formalize this notion in terms of Bayesian ...
- 203
3
votes
2
answers
298
views
Is there a law stating impermanence of machines?
All livings beings take birth, age, and die. This is well understood as a Truth in philosophy through inductive argumentation. That begs a follow up question: is there any formulation of a Law based ...
- 1,841
3
votes
2
answers
103
views
Question about Boltzmann Brain?
If all the memories contained within a Boltzmann brain were hypothetical, so would be the physical laws that enable its very existence; therefore, a Boltzmann brain wouldn't be able to explain itself?
- 33
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
Absolute Zero and Existence [closed]
If the universe were at absolute zero, space-time exist? That is, does space-time require heat to exist?
- 1
6
votes
5
answers
180
views
Hypothesis generation & the structure of scientific theories: how (exactly) do theories constrain hypothesis generation?
How (exactly) do theories constrain the generation of various, potential hypotheses to explain something? In particular, what are the different implications of different accounts of the structure of ...
- 253
2
votes
4
answers
101
views
Is there any proof on whether technological development never ends?
I’ve grappled with this question for many years. There is no way humans can possibly know if technological progression ever hits an endpoint. Some say yes, others say no. Even truly brilliant ...
- 309
0
votes
3
answers
127
views
If we did have a proven 'Theory of Everything' from physics, would it help to know why there is a universe?
From a 2022 review by a philosopher, of a 2021 book I haven't read by a physicist, quoting from a 1998 book I haven't read by a physicist:
What’s Eating the Universe is undoubtedly a very interesting ...
- 107
2
votes
5
answers
257
views
How to explain the cosmic expansion? [closed]
We know from astrophysics that the cosmos expands, i.e. that all galaxies recede from each other. This fact is confirmed by observation. It can also be obtained as a solution of the Einstein equations....
- 23.9k
0
votes
3
answers
92
views
What is the ontological relationship between a "process" and a "law of physics", from this philosophical perspective?
I was reflecting on the difference between the subject of physics and the subject of biology, and this was the conclusion I reached: Physics is the study of the laws of objective reality, while ...
- 413
0
votes
3
answers
120
views
The Copenhagen Interpretation: From Quantum Mechanics to Ethics?
I've been pondering an intriguing comparison lately, drawing parallels between the Copenhagen Interpretation in quantum mechanics and a hypothetical "Copenhagen Interpretation of Ethics". As ...
- 9
5
votes
1
answer
156
views
Way to find a middle ground between functionalism and "panpsychism"?
Scientifically, given that we are just pieces of universe (earth), then parts of the universe can experience phenomenal consciousness.
"Panpsychism" says that therefore phenomenality must be ...
- 107
-1
votes
4
answers
280
views
Would the existence of an absolute mean not everything is in motion?
I have no idea if/how the two concepts are linked, that of everything being in motion and there being no absolute motion. I believe both are claimed by contemporary physics, and e.g. Descartes, and ...
user67675
7
votes
2
answers
677
views
Does the incomputability of kolmogorov complexity imply that we will never have a final theory of everything?
The Kolmogorov Complexity is the size of the simplest program that produces a specific output. By the Curry-Howard Correspondence, "programs" are isomorphic to "axiomatic systems" ...
- 173
14
votes
11
answers
5k
views
Are we at the end of scientific paradigm shifts?
Thomas Kuhn’s theory of Paradigm shifts state that a paradigm shift is a massive change in scientific belief and understanding in a specific field e.g. the switch from the geocentric universe to ...
- 309
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
What are the best resources for learning about theory choice?
There’s a small Wikipedia article describing how philosophers have throughout history come up with criteria to decide between theories that attempt to explain certain observations. What I am ...
- 8,214
-5
votes
3
answers
179
views
Would a reformulation of Sherlock Holmes’s statement on impossibility be valid?
Sherlock Holmes said, “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?" Although the statement may be valid, ...
- 8,214
2
votes
2
answers
59
views
What philosophers have touched upon the inability to qualify data as being representative of evidence in support of a scientific theory?
As a scientist and philosopher, I've increasingly noticed a failure in my learnings related to how data may be qualified as evidence in support of a theory. It appears that in any effort to qualify ...
0
votes
3
answers
77
views
Are evolution and reinforcement learning related?
Are evolution and reinforcement learning related?
Evolution and reinforcement learning are related in that they both involve a process of learning and adaptation over time.
Evolution is a biological ...
- 139
2
votes
1
answer
82
views
Books on the philosophy of quantum mechanics
As the title says, I am looking for books on the philosophy of quantum mechanics; more specifically on ontology and or epistemolgy. So far I've found Tim Maudlin's Philosophy of Physics: Quantum ...
- 45
10
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Is scientific method entirely based on statistics (statistical inference)?
If I am correct the scientific method is an application of induction to science.
Is the scientific method entirely based on statistics (statistical inference)? (I guess so, because it makes use of ...
- 479
4
votes
2
answers
354
views
Is there any “stability metric” for scientific fields?
Is there any attempt to gauge how quickly a scientific field overturns its own claims/findings; ie an evaluation of if the fields’ findings have what degree of longevity?
It could compare fields as ...
- 116
-1
votes
1
answer
99
views
Is the existence of God a question within the purview of science?
Some people, including perhaps most philosophers, believe that the existence of God is a philosophical question, not a scientific one. But is it really? It seems to me that while the existence of a ...
- 5,446
2
votes
0
answers
51
views
Can an event that has a beginning be metaphysically necessary?
Suppose an extremely complex event occurs that is meaningful but extremely improbable under current physical laws.
Suppose then, that a theist says, “God explains this better for otherwise it is very ...
- 8,214
3
votes
1
answer
70
views
Are there different forms of rigor, and if so, are some forms of rigor more rigorous than others?
Is there only one kind of rigor? Or does rigor come in different forms, like mathematical rigor, philosophical rigor, and scientific rigor? And if it does, are some forms of rigor more rigorous than ...
- 5,446
7
votes
11
answers
4k
views
Are there questions that science can't answer, but philosophy can?
Are there questions that science can't answer, but philosophy can? I can't think of any such questions. But, perhaps there are such questions. I would like some examples. Note, such questions have to ...
- 5,446
5
votes
11
answers
4k
views
Does Bayesianism give an out for pseudoscience that it shouldn’t deserve?
In Bayesianism, every belief in a hypothesis is updated in the same way. You have a prior probability P (H). You have the probability of an observation under a hypothesis P (E|H). And then you update ...
- 8,214