Demarcation Problem
Demarcation Problem
Demarcation Problem
A bit of philosophy
Sciences most intriguing success is epistemic. Epistemology is a branch of philosophy which deals with our knowledge of things and how we justify it. Thus, in being epistemically successful, science has able to justify our knowledge of everything around usmore so than any other discipline.
For example
Science has given us a deeper understanding of how things move than, say, poetry has. Science has given us a good explanation of how our bodies work than, say, a painting has. And, science has given as a plausible story of how the universe began than, say, a creation myth has.
Now we wonder
Is there anything which unites the disciplines we call scientific and explains this distinctive epistemic success? What, if any, is the special mark which distinguishes science from other disciplines? This now is what is known as the demarcation problem.
Any ideas?
Lets think for a while of what makes a particular discipline scientific. Lets make a list of their characteristics.
Ask yourself:
Is umbrellaology a science? Does it fit in our conception of what science is? Why or why not?
Next meeting
Well try to assess what the experts say about the nature of science. Specifically, well look at the Rational Reconstruction Programa program about the nature of science devised during the 1920s to answer our question: What makes science science?
END
Note: For the discussion next meeting, you may want to read about how Karl Popper and the Logical Positivists answered the demarcation problem.