The Times and Troubles of the Scientific Method

Summary

This SciShow episode delves into the scientific method, a systematic approach to understanding the universe. It traces the method's evolution from Aristotle's empiricism to the modern process of hypothesis testing and experimentation. The video highlights that while the scientific method has been instrumental, it's not infallible, and sometimes breakthroughs come from creativity and luck. It also discusses how advancements like computers are changing scientific practices, suggesting a future where machines might conduct science autonomously.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Science is a process of learning about the universe and organizing information to build upon it.
• 📚 The scientific method is a systematic approach to investigating phenomena, with rules similar to those in sports or systems like the postal service.
• 🕰 It took thousands of years for humanity to develop the scientific method as we know it today.
• 🌟 Not all scientific knowledge comes from the scientific method; some discoveries are due to inspiration or luck.
• 🚀 Some experts believe that new methods are needed to further our understanding of the universe beyond the current scientific method.
• 🔍 The scientific method involves formulating a hypothesis, testing it with experiments, and using data to draw conclusions.
• 🐶 An example given in the script is investigating why a dog drags its butt across the floor, following the steps of the scientific method.
• 📖 Aristotle is often credited with the early foundations of the scientific method, emphasizing the importance of observation and experimentation.
• 🌐 The scientific method was significantly developed during the Scientific Revolution, with key figures like Galileo, Boyle, and Newton refining its principles.
• 💡 Some major scientific discoveries, like those by Marie Curie, Einstein, and Turing, were made through creativity and serendipity rather than strictly following the scientific method.
• 💻 The 21st century has seen computers and AI playing a role in the scientific method, capable of formulating hypotheses and conducting experiments autonomously.

Q & A

What is the scientific method?

The scientific method is a systematic approach to understanding the universe by formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing data to build and refine knowledge.

How has the scientific method evolved over time?

The scientific method has evolved from early philosophical inquiries to a more structured process with defined steps, including observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and analysis. It has been shaped by various thinkers and scientific revolutions.

Who is often credited with initiating the scientific method?

Aristotle is sometimes credited with initiating the scientific method due to his emphasis on empirical observation and experimentation, although his conclusions were often incorrect.

What is empiricism and how does it relate to the scientific method?

Empiricism is the theory that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. It is fundamental to the scientific method, which relies on observation and experimentation as the basis for understanding phenomena.

How did the scientific method develop during the Scientific Revolution?

During the Scientific Revolution, the scientific method was refined to include rigorous testing of hypotheses through experimentation. Key figures like Galileo, Boyle, and Newton contributed to its development and acceptance.

Who is considered the father of the scientific method and why?

Ibn al-Haytham, a 10th-century Arab scientist, is often considered the father of the scientific method due to his pioneering work in optics and his systematic approach to scientific inquiry.

What is a paradigm shift in the context of science?

A paradigm shift refers to a major change in the underlying assumptions or theories within a scientific discipline, often triggered by unresolved anomalies that cannot be explained by the current scientific method.

How have computers and technology impacted the scientific method?

Computers and technology have automated aspects of the scientific method, allowing for faster data collection, analysis, and hypothesis testing. This has expanded the scope and speed of scientific research.

What is the role of creativity and serendipity in scientific discoveries?

Creativity and serendipity play significant roles in scientific discoveries, often leading to breakthroughs that cannot be attributed solely to the structured application of the scientific method.

How has the scientific method been challenged or questioned in modern science?

Modern science has questioned the scientific method's applicability to complex problems, suggesting that it may be limited in addressing certain aspects of the universe that require innovative approaches beyond traditional hypothesis testing.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 The Scientific Method: Foundation of Modern Science

This paragraph introduces the scientific method as a systematic approach to understanding the universe. It emphasizes that while the method is not perfect, it has been instrumental in the discovery and verification of much of our current knowledge. The paragraph discusses the evolution of the scientific method over thousands of years, highlighting that not all scientific knowledge has come from this method, and that some insights have been the result of inspiration or luck. It also mentions that some experts believe we may need new methods to uncover deeper truths about the universe. The scientific method is described as a process of formulating plausible explanations for observed phenomena and rigorously testing them against facts and questions. The paragraph concludes with an example of how one might use the scientific method to investigate a natural occurrence, such as a dog's behavior.

05:01

📚 The Evolution of the Scientific Method and its Pioneers

This paragraph delves into the historical development of the scientific method, acknowledging that it was not always practiced as it is today. It credits Aristotle with early contributions to the method through his emphasis on empirical evidence. The paragraph also discusses the Golden Age of Arabic science, where scholars like Ibn al-Haytham made significant strides in empirical research, laying the groundwork for modern scientific inquiry. The Scientific Revolution is highlighted as a pivotal period where the scientific method was refined and key figures like Galileo, Robert Boyle, and Francis Bacon made substantial contributions. The paragraph also touches on the concept of paradigm shifts in science, as introduced by Thomas Kuhn, which occur when anomalies challenge existing frameworks and lead to new ways of understanding.

10:01

💡 The Future of Science: Creativity, Serendipity, and Technology

The final paragraph explores the impact of creativity and serendipity in scientific discovery, citing examples of groundbreaking work by scientists like Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, and others who made discoveries outside the strict confines of the scientific method. It discusses the limitations of the method in addressing complex problems and the role of computers in aiding scientific research. The paragraph highlights how advancements in technology, such as robots and large-scale data analysis, are changing the landscape of science. It suggests that the future of science may involve a greater integration of technology, potentially leading to a redefinition of what it means to 'do science' and the skills required of scientists.

Keywords

💡Scientific Method

The scientific method is a systematic approach to investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, and correcting or integrating existing knowledge. It involves a cycle of steps including observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, and drawing conclusions. In the video, it is described as the 'accepted way' of conducting scientific investigations, from the smallest atomic movements to the behaviors of animals like tree frogs. The scientific method is central to the video's theme as it is the foundation upon which scientific knowledge is built and tested.

💡Empiricism

Empiricism is a philosophical theory that knowledge can primarily be acquired through experience and observation. It is contrasted with rationalism, which emphasizes the role of reason. In the script, empiricism is attributed to Aristotle, who is noted for advocating that truths about natural phenomena must be discovered through experimentation and observation, not just by contemplation. This concept is crucial to the development of the scientific method as it emphasizes the importance of evidence in scientific inquiry.

💡Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for a phenomenon, which can be tested through experimentation and observation. It serves as a starting point for scientific investigation. The video uses the example of a dog dragging its butt across the floor, suggesting that a scientist would propose a testable hypothesis, such as the presence of worms, to explain this behavior. The hypothesis is then tested, which is a fundamental aspect of the scientific method.

💡Experimentation

Experimentation is the process of conducting tests or observations to validate or refute a hypothesis. It is a critical component of the scientific method, allowing scientists to collect data that can either support or disprove their theories. The video mentions experimentation as a way to test hypotheses, like examining a dog's feces under a microscope for worms or giving deworming medicine to see if the behavior changes.

💡Data Collection

Data collection is the process of gathering and analyzing information to answer a specific research question. It is an essential part of the scientific method, as it provides the empirical evidence needed to draw conclusions. In the script, data collection is illustrated through the process of testing a hypothesis about a dog's behavior, such as observing whether the dog stops dragging its butt after deworming.

💡Conclusion

A conclusion in scientific research is a statement that summarizes the findings of an investigation, often based on the data collected and analyzed. It is the final step in the scientific method, where a scientist interprets the data to determine whether the hypothesis is supported or not. The video describes how, after analyzing the data, a scientist might conclude that a dog's behavior is due to a blocked anal gland or some other reason, based on the evidence.

💡Scientific Revolution

The Scientific Revolution refers to a period of significant scientific development and discovery that took place between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was a time when the scientific method was refined and began to be widely adopted, leading to major breakthroughs in understanding the natural world. The video highlights key figures like Galileo, Robert Boyle, and Isaac Newton, whose work exemplified the use of the scientific method and contributed to the advancement of science.

💡Paradigm Shift

A paradigm shift is a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline. It is a concept introduced by Thomas Kuhn and refers to the transformation in scientific understanding that occurs when anomalies in the current paradigm cannot be resolved and a new one emerges. The video discusses how paradigm shifts, such as the move from classical mechanics to quantum mechanics, are necessary for science to progress and address unresolved questions.

💡Serendipity

Serendipity in the context of science refers to the occurrence of valuable discoveries made by accident or chance. The video mentions that many scientific breakthroughs, like those made by Marie Curie or Albert Einstein, were not the result of the scientific method but rather came about through creative thinking and serendipity. This concept highlights that while the scientific method is a structured approach, innovation and unexpected findings can also drive scientific progress.

💡Computational Science

Computational science involves the use of computers and simulations to conduct scientific research and analyze data. The video discusses how computers are becoming increasingly important in science, particularly with the vast amounts of data generated by modern experiments. It mentions an example of a robot that can formulate hypotheses, design experiments, and analyze data autonomously, indicating a future where computers may play a larger role in scientific discovery alongside human scientists.

Highlights

Science is a process of learning about the universe and organizing information.

The scientific method is the accepted technique for scientific investigations.

The scientific method took thousands of years to develop and refine.

Not all scientific knowledge comes from the scientific method; some is due to inspiration or luck.

Some experts argue that new methods are needed for deeper understanding of the universe.

The scientific method involves testing plausible explanations with facts and questions.

Science aims to disprove its own theories about how the world works.

Aristotle is credited with early ideas that led to the scientific method.

Empiricism, the idea that theories must be proven through experimentation, was key to the scientific method's development.

The Golden Age of Arabic science preserved and expanded upon ancient Greek knowledge.

Ibn al-Haytham's work on light and optics contributed significantly to the scientific method.

The Scientific Revolution refined the scientific method, leading to significant discoveries.

Isaac Newton's work laid out the official rules for scientific reasoning.

Many discoveries were made without the scientific method, through creativity and serendipity.

Thomas Kuhn suggested that the scientific method has limitations and that paradigm shifts are necessary for progress.

Computers and AI are becoming integral to the scientific method, handling large data sets and automating processes.

The future of science may involve a collaboration between human creativity and computer processing power.

The definition of science may change as computers take on more scientific method tasks.

Transcripts

science isn't like science is more of a

process a process of learning about the

universe and organizing that information

so that we can build on it and just like

most processes there's an accepted way

of doing scientific investigations on

everything from the movement of atoms to

the mating habits of tree frogs this

technique is called the scientific

method and it's got its rules just like

golf in the US postal system as much as

we take the scientific method for

granted the fact is that it took

thousands of years for us to figure out

how to actually practice the discipline

of science and it served us pretty well

a lot of what we know about the world

has been discovered and tested and

verified through the use of the

scientific method or at least versions

of the one that we use today but of

course not all scientific knowledge has

come to us through this method many

revelations came about because of

flashes of inspiration or just plain

luck rather than by testing theories and

labs what's more some experts say that

the scientific method can only take us

so far that we as a species have reached

a level of understanding that requires

new methods to help us get to the finer

truths of how the universe works so I

have news for you the scientific method

is not perfect but it's the best thing

we have for now

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the scientific method is all about

coming up with a plausible explanation

for an observed phenomenon and then

shooting that possible explanation with

the machine gun full of facts and

questions until you either a destroy

that seemingly plausible explanation or

B decide that it's indestructible so

science is working tirelessly night and

day to disprove its own theories about

how the world works or at least that's

what science thinks it's doing what do

you want to find out something about the

natural world for example why your dog

is always dragging his butt across the

floor a scientist will advise you to go

through a series of steps to find the

answer

step 1 ask a question why is my dog

always dragging his butt across the

carpet step 2

do some research checking out the pet

health websites asking other people why

they think their dogs wiped their anuses

on the carpet step 3 propose a possible

but testable explanation

aka a hypothesis in this case maybe he

has worms

step 4 test this hypothesis with

experiments until you've disproven it's

like put his poop butt or a microscope

and see if there's worms under there

give him some deworming medicine and see

if he stops soiling all the floors in

your house that's called collecting data

if he doesn't stop after you've dewormed

him you can probably consider that

hypothesis disproven so then you come up

with another hypothesis and collect some

more data on that each time you prove an

idea wrong you come up with another

hypothesis and test until that five you

dog quits wiping its butt all over the

carpet and then you can analyze the data

you collected to draw a conclusion like

he was just trying to express a blocked

anal gland or he's just a bit of a perv

or whatever your data suggests and there

you go science accomplished you can go

ahead and make your conclusions known to

the scientific community now because you

just did the scientific method all this

sounds pretty reasonable because that's

what we're used to but that doesn't mean

that science was always done this way

some people credit Aristotle with

inventing the scientific method because

he was the first to say hey truths about

natural phenomena can't be discovered

just by thinking really hard on your

couch you have to go experiments like go

out there and make some observations

Aristotle basically came up with the

prototype for the scientific method but

by present-day standards he was sort of

the terrible scientist we know that

because almost all of the stuff he wrote

about was wrong like that time

said that females were anatomically just

deformed men yeah but his idea that

theories could only be proven through

experimentation and observation called

empiricism eventually took hold the

problem was that empiricism was really

most useful when lots of people were

gathering data and sharing that

information has meant that science could

only grow as fast as information could

spread and back in the days before the

Google machine or the Pony Express or

whatever information spread like snails

on nyquil slowly is what I'm trying to

say like we think of the Middle Ages as

being a time when everybody just sat

around getting the plague and watching

the Roman Empire collapsed but in fact

the dark ages of European science were

actually the Golden Age of Arabic

science Muslim scholars preserved the

knowledge that had made its way from

ancient Greece and built upon it while

the Europeans were mostly on

intellectual hiatus in fact if you want

to call somebody the father of the

scientific method the best candidate

would probably be 10th century Arab

scientist even L - I banal - did amazing

work on light and optics a topic on

which he wrote seven books he used math

to prove that we see like that enters

our eyes and not because light comes out

of our eyes which was the prevailing

theory of the day he also developed a

method for his enquiries that was based

on first gathering data through

observation and measurement followed by

formulating and testing hypotheses to

explain what he observed basically he

invented a stripped-down version of what

we roll with today by the time Europeans

were back in the game intellectually a

few key figures in Europe took the

mantle of empiricism and fueled the

Scientific Revolution a period between

the 16th and 18th centuries when finally

the scientific method had been refined

to a point where actual stuff could get

figured out this was Sciences first real

heyday Galileo studied astronomy and

physics Robert Boyle argued that it

didn't matter how you felt about a

theory or how beautiful it sounded but

only whether it could be backed up by

experimentation Francis Bacon argued

that science was only science if it was

trying to prove itself wrong in

Portuguese physician and philosopher

Francisco Sanchez coined the term

scientific method in 1581 to describe

the process of gathering and judging

data in an attempt to understand the

world but arguably this centuries-long

revolution peaked with Isaac Newton his

laws of motion and gravitation totally

changed

the game obviously but in his famous

book Principia he also laid out what

basically became the official rules for

scientific reason rolls like all things

that create the same effects can be

assumed to have the same basic causes

and if you observe the same qualities in

different bodies through experimentation

you could assume that all bodies

everywhere have those same qualities and

last but not least theories based on

observation should be considered

accurate until they are refuted by

other observations so the Scientific

Revolution made the scientific method

pretty much what we know today and as a

result scientists gradually just started

being scientists not Knights who

happened to write books or monks who did

genetics on the side they also began

following specialized disciplines like

chemistry or biology but here's the

weird part even though great science was

being done using the scientific method a

lot of incredible discoveries were made

without it take Marie Curie's insights

into radioactivity Albert Einstein's

theories of special and general

relativity Nikola Tesla's AC induction

motor Alan Turing in the computer and

Richard Feynman's famous Fineman

diagrams all these scientists made

discoveries either as a result of

putting together pieces that had been

discovered by others or just because

they saw the world a little differently

than everybody else in other words those

discoveries were made not through

subjecting an idea to the method but by

creativity in a certain amount of

serendipity both concepts that would

have made old-school empiricists kind of

uncomfortable by the 20th century

scientists were beginning to find that

the scientific method wasn't really

applicable to some of the problems that

we were trying to solve by that time

scientists weren't trying to figure out

where babies came from like Aristotle

was or what made apples fall from trees

they were trying to refine our knowledge

of the universe and those finer details

can get tricky to hypothesize about an

experiment on in 1962 American physicist

and philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn

suggested that there wasn't necessarily

anything wrong with the method but that

we were putting too much pressure on the

method to do all of Sciences work hoon

suggested there were different phases of

science the first just being normal

science which followed the scientific

method and tested hypotheses with

experimentation and everybody in a

particular field had a shared

understanding of their discipline within

this framework scientists got to the

bottom of what was already known with

more and more precision and when

something came up that seemed to go

against how they understood the world

they either put it aside

or treated the anomaly like a little not

picking at it with a scientific method

observation hypothesis experiment the

only problem was that these unresolved

anomalies tended to pile up and become

so conspicuous that some scientists

began to question what they thought they

knew take gravity for example Newton

figured out how it worked the Apple is

being pulled toward the earth while the

earth is being pulled toward the Apple

everybody used that framework for 200

years until the anomaly started piling

up for instance based on how other

planets interacted with each other and

how light bent in space NewsView didn't

seem to be true anywhere except here on

earth so Einstein came along and

suggested the existence of photons which

pulled less massive objects toward more

massive objects and even pulled stuff

with no mass toward a massive object all

ideas that Newton would have definitely

objected to and low classical mechanics

made way for quantum mechanics and

physics has never been the same so

Einstein theorized creative possible

solutions where the scientific method

had left us high and dry this is what

kuhn called a paradigm shift or a

complete change in the assumptions made

about a certain area of science during

one of these shifts scientists are

willing to try anything entertain any

crazy notion debate everything we took

for granted to explain an anomaly in the

end there's a change in how everybody

sees the world and the old way of

thinking is replaced with a new one then

normal science takes over again

observation hypothesis experiment the

scientific methods equilibrium is

restored since Kuhn though more changes

have been made to how we do science I'm

talking about computers here lots of

them because at this point a robot can

actually do science all by itself in

2009 scientists and whales built a robot

that could successfully formulate a

hypothesis design and run its own

experiments analyze data and decide

which experiments to run next of course

the discoveries made by this computer

were pretty modest revelations about the

purpose of different yeast genes but the

point is computers are the future of

science I mean like take CERN's Large

Hadron Collider that thing that's been

turning out a gigabyte of data per

second enough to fill up a DVD every

five seconds that data's being sent to

labs all over the world for analysis

there just aren't enough human

scientists on the planet to process all

that information so

computers were the ones actually

following the scientific method human

scientists would be freed up to do the

cool stuff the collaboration the

creative thinking the serendipitous

observing the strategizing about what

steps to take next at the very least

they'd be doing a lot less pipetting and

that would obviously change a lot about

how we think about science it would

affect everything from the skillset we

look for in a scientist the way that

science is taught in schools it would

basically change the definition of

science at least as far as humans are

concerned and as dependable and

comforting as the scientific method is

to have around and as much as I love

pipetting that's kind of exciting

prospect thanks for watching this

episode of scishow if you have any

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can find us on Facebook or Twitter or of

course down in the comments below and if

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