The Scientific Method

The scientific method is an attempt to understand the world thorugh observation, analysis and deduction. It requires a trust in emperical eveidence (our knowledge comes from our senses). The scientific method is Observing - watch, Hypothesis - make a theory, Experiment - try it out, Verification - testing the theory with further experiements. It is based on fact and evidence.

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The Scientific Method

Advantages

  • It is based on empirical evidence
  • It is proof and verification
  • Found by reasoning and observation
  • Reliable at finding the truth
  • Scientists are impartial
  • Cautious - with theories that are backed up

Disadvantages

  • Nothing has full knowledge of the world
  • Senses can deceive us - science only provides us with an incomplete picture of the world
  • Scientists can never be completely unbiased
  • Science isn't free from error
  • No way of knowing what is real - some things could be illusions
  • Theories have to sometimes be interpreted e.g. data is interpreted

Evaluation

The scientific method is good as it is based on fact. It is based on empirical evidence and is reliable at finding the truth. However science can not be free form error and nothing has full knowledge of the world. For these reasons not everything that science does is the full truth.

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