Teaching the Philosophy of Science with Non-Scientific Examples Essay

Teaching the Philosophy of Science with Non-Scientific ExamplesABSTRACT This essay explores the benefits of utilizing non-scientific examples and analogies in breeding philosophy of science courses, or general introductory courses. These examples can help resolve two basic difficulties faced by most instructors, curiously when dogma lower-level courses first, they can prompt students to take an active interest in the class material, since the examples will involve aspects of the culture well-known to the students second, these familiar, less-threatening examples will decrease the students collective anxieties and open them up to learning the material more(prenominal) easily. To question this strategy of constructing and employing non-scientific examples, a lengthy analogy between medicational styles and Kuhns surmisal of scientific revolutions is developed. Without a doubt, maven of the most difficult tasks in teaching undergraduate philosophy courses is motivating the studen ts to take an active interest in the abstract and complex issues normally presented. One obvious method of overcoming this plight is to provide numerous historical examples and analogies of the relevant philosophical problem, since concrete instances argon frequently less complicated than general descriptions, articulate the main points more clearly, and have the added bonus of being more personal and relatable. Thus, if one were presenting, say, Imre Lakatos surmise of scientific research programs, describing the conflict between the Ptolemaic and Copernican views would take to heart as an excellent backdrop for the introduction of Lakatos ideas. Nevertheless, if the students are unfamiliar and/or bored by the kinds of examples employed, the strategy will, of course,... ...eme be introduced in the development sectionalisation? // (rock) Can the song last for more than three minutes?4) Techniques for say questions (and standards of success) (class.) Yes, but as long as it does nt undermine the recapitulation. // Yes, but dont impart much radio air play, or video exposure.5) Exemplars (successful previous performance of theory) (class.) a sonata form movement by one of the acknowledged master, much(prenominal) as Haydn, Mozart, etc. // a hit song by one of the great rock bands, such as Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.6) Incommensurability theme in classical sonata form is designed for maximum development capacity, and is (usually) in each tonic or dominant key // theme in rock music is usually designed for maximum melodic capacity, must allow lyrics to be set to the theme, and may not strictly follow the tonic-dominant tonal scheme.