Philosophy of Science | Four Major Paradigms

Summary

This video introduces the concepts of science, research, and the philosophy of science. It explores the different philosophical stances on scientific inquiry, including positivism, constructivism, critical realism, and pragmatism. Each perspective is examined for its approach to knowledge, methods, and research applications. The video also delves into the differences between inductive and deductive reasoning and their roles in research, as well as the importance of combining both methods in some studies. Ultimately, the video encourages viewers to understand the diverse philosophies that shape scientific research.

Takeaways

• 😀 Science is derived from the Latin word 'scientia', which means knowledge. Research involves the production of new knowledge using scientific methods.
• 😀 Philosophy of science is the study of the foundations, methods, and implications of scientific knowledge, including ontology (belief in truth), epistemology (how to build knowledge), and implications (how knowledge works in the real world).
• 😀 There are four major philosophical stances in science: Positivism, Constructivism, Critical Realism, and Pragmatism, each offering a different approach to understanding knowledge and research.
• 😀 Positivism believes in a single, objective truth and focuses on rigorous, replicable research methods, often using deductive reasoning and experiments to test cause-and-effect relationships.
• 😀 Constructivism challenges positivism by asserting that truth is subjective and mentally constructed, with a focus on qualitative methods like unstructured interviews to understand context and human perspectives.
• 😀 Critical Realism combines elements of positivism and constructivism, acknowledging that there may be one objective truth, but it’s difficult to reach. It uses triangulation of data and methods to minimize bias and get closer to truth.
• 😀 Pragmatism focuses on the practical application of research and believes truth is evolving, with a focus on solving real-world problems regardless of the philosophical approach used.
• 😀 Deductive reasoning works from general theories to specific hypotheses and tests, while inductive reasoning works from specific observations to broader generalizations.
• 😀 According to Karl Popper, inductive reasoning cannot prove hypotheses as there's always the potential for contradictory evidence, which is why deductive reasoning is preferred in science.
• 😀 Both inductive and deductive reasoning are valuable in research; inductive reasoning generates theories, and deductive reasoning tests them. Some research also uses abductive reasoning, a combination of both.

Q & A

What is science, and where does the word come from?

Science is derived from the Latin word 'scientia', which means knowledge. It refers to the systematic pursuit of knowledge through observation and experimentation.

How does research contribute to the production of knowledge?

Research is the process of generating new knowledge by using scientific methods such as observation, experimentation, and analysis. It builds upon existing knowledge and aims to discover new insights.

What is the philosophy of science, and why is it important?

Philosophy of science is the study of the foundations, methods, and implications of scientific knowledge. It is important because it helps us understand the underlying principles that guide scientific research, including how we interpret new knowledge.

What is ontology in the context of philosophy of science?

Ontology refers to the study of the nature of existence and reality. In the philosophy of science, it addresses the question of what science is and what constitutes the 'truth'.

What is epistemology, and how does it relate to scientific methods?

Epistemology is the branch of philosophy that deals with the nature and scope of knowledge. In the context of science, it explores how scientific knowledge is acquired and validated through methods such as experimentation and observation.

What is the difference between positivism and constructivism in the philosophy of science?

Positivism believes in a single objective truth and emphasizes rigorous, observable, and replicable research methods like experiments. Constructivism, on the other hand, argues that truth is mentally constructed and varies depending on human perspective and context, often using qualitative methods like interviews.

How does critical realism combine elements of both positivism and constructivism?

Critical realism acknowledges the existence of an external reality but also accepts that our observations and measurements are imperfect. It emphasizes using data triangulation and multiple methods to get closer to the objective truth, even if it's impossible to fully reach it.

What is pragmatism, and how does it approach research?

Pragmatism is a philosophical stance that focuses on practical outcomes. Pragmatists don't adhere to any one approach to research but believe that the value of research lies in its ability to solve real-world problems, regardless of whether the methods are objective or subjective.

What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning in research?

Deductive reasoning starts with a general theory and tests it through specific hypotheses, while inductive reasoning starts with specific observations and develops general conclusions. Deductive reasoning is often used for theory testing, while inductive reasoning is used for theory generation.

What is abductive reasoning, and how does it relate to inductive and deductive reasoning?

Abductive reasoning is a combination of inductive and deductive approaches. It starts with an observation and seeks the most likely explanation, often used when there is insufficient data for a fully deductive or inductive approach.