Your personal definition of science?

[cassidymae]

Discuss below.

[ecoli]

In a phrase, the application of Bayes rule for epistemic gain

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Building models which successfully predict the behavior of reality.

[ecoli]

Building models which successfully predict the behavior of reality.

 

actually very similar to my definition, actually.

[StringJunky]

actually very similar to my definition, actually.

 

But CR said it in plain English....you were just trying baffle us...with science.

[mississippichem]

-Using observation of controlled scenarios to invalidate or support hypothesized models of how the universe works.

 

-Using logic and mathematics to interpret these results in a way that minimizes subjectivity.

 

-Philosophy that observable phenomena can be explained.

[doG]

The systematic approach of building verified knowledge.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

The systematic approach of building verified knowledge.

Doesn't that imply that science is about collecting facts, rather than building models?

[ecoli]

Doesn't that imply that science is about collecting facts, rather than building models?

well what is knowledge but an explanatory model?

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

well what is knowledge but an explanatory model?

There's a difference between simply performing experiments to write down the answers and using the answers to build a general model which predicts the results of future experiments.

[ecoli]

There's a difference between simply performing experiments to write down the answers and using the answers to build a general model which predicts the results of future experiments.

I think we might be talking past each other.

 

I call the former observations, which when put into context of the experiment, can be used to build a predictive model (for future experiments). If knowledge isn't predictive, then what do you really know?

[doG]

Doesn't that imply that science is about collecting facts, rather than building models?

Can't you build models to collect facts? That is the point of building 'verified' knowledge isn't it?

[Klaynos]

The formation of models of how stuff works and the comparison of those models against reality.

 

Normally when talking to people without a rigorous science background I change this slightly to:

 

The formation of mathematical models of how stuff works and the numerical comparison of those models against reality.

[ecoli]

Klaynos - would you support the notion that all scientific models can be expressed mathematically? I'm inclined to agree but want to think of counterexamples

[Klaynos]

Klaynos - would you support the notion that all scientific models can be expressed mathematically? I'm inclined to agree but want to think of counterexamples

 

I would tentatively support it. Mostly because I cannot think of a counter example, I too would be intrigued by any.

[ajb]

To my mind, science is really a philosophy or attitude towards examining and understanding the world. That is our efforts should be driven by the scientific method, this has already been hinted at.

Edited May 4, 2012 by ajb

[Xittenn]

Science: The explicit quantification of external stimuli by living organisms, which thereby enables said organisms to react in a precise manner which most effectively maintains homeostasis--one of the fundamental requirements to their existence.

 

Some might argue that there are plenty of reasons to observe that do not entail survival, but I feel this is in all actuality obligate to our disposition. The reason that science is the disinterested pursuit of knowledge, is that it really shouldn't matter what we conclude as long as it satisfies our biological function towards being internalized entities that must defend against an externalized world.

 

““”̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ ̿'̿'̵͇̿̿з=(•̪●)=ε/̵͇̿̿/̿ ̿ ̿ ̿ ̿'““

Edited April 27, 2012 by Xittenn

[immortal]

Science is all about making models of the observable world which can be testified.

[Iggy]

Information about the world consistent with the scientific method... that is to say, falsifiable information explaining reality.

[juanrga]

My personal definition (although peer-reviewed):

 

Science is the enterprise dealing with (i) the description, analysis, and synthesis of parts of the observable universe and their transformations, following systematic methods, (ii) the recording and organization of the acquired accumulative knowledge into testable formalisms and methods, and (iii) the dissemination of this knowledge.

[michel123456]

I wonder if one or the other science would escape from the definition: there are a lot of sciences. So I went rambling over the web to find a exhaustive list of recognized sciences. I couldn't.

I found a list of "ologies" and a list of academic disciplines.

 

but physics, mathematics & others are not in the "ologies" list while some academic disciplines are clearly not science.

 

So, do we write a definition from scratch and look if one or the other dicipline fits, or do we want a definition that encompasses already recognized disciplines?

[pmb]

The following is the definition of science from the America Associatio of Physics Teachers. This is not copywritten material.

 

http://home.comcast.net/~peter.m.brown/ref/what_is_science.pdf

 

I prefer this definition to any other I hae been able to find. I hope that I don't get in trouble for pasting this here.

 

Pete

[juanrga]

The following is the definition of science from the America Associatio of Physics Teachers. This is not copywritten material.

 

http://home.comcast...._is_science.pdf

 

I prefer this definition to any other I hae been able to find. I hope that I don't get in trouble for pasting this here.

 

Pete

 

That is just the American Physicist Society definition of science, which misses whole scientific disciplines as synthetic chemistry. The definition of science given before was developed to improve that.

Edited April 30, 2012 by juanrga

[pmb]

That is just the American Physicist Society definition of science, which misses whole scientific disciplines as synthetic chemistry. The definition of science given before was developed to improve that.

Please illustrate your assertion with an example. Thanks.

 

Pete

[juanrga]

Please illustrate your assertion with an example. Thanks.

 

Pete

 

Synthetic chemistry. The main role of synthetic chemistry is not to create theories or laws but to create new substances. This is a particular characteristics of chemistry, that makes it different from physics. As stated by Marcelin Berthelot, La chimie crée son object –chemistry creates its object.

 

Moreover, the definition that you reproduce defines science as a systematic enterprise, somewhat as the Science Council also does. But as stated by David Edgerton:

It defines science as a pursuit, an activity, related to the creation of new knowledge, rather than established knowledge itself. Science is seen as a species of research. Yet a definition of science needs to define the nature of the knowledge not the means of its creation only.

 

A more complete and accurate definition is given in science.

Edited May 1, 2012 by juanrga