SKEPTICISM AND EMPIRICISM

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SKEPTICISM
• Definition
• It is an attitude of doubt, questioning and critical thinking towards
claims, beliefs or assertions
• In the context of science, skepticism involves subjecting hypothesis,
theories and evidence to rigorous scrutiny and evaluation before
accepting them as valid

• Critical evaluation
• Skepticism prompts scientists to critically evaluate the evidence
supporting a claim or hypothesis, considering alternative explanations
and potential biases or confounding factors

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SKEPTICISM
• Guard against bias
• Skepticism serves as a safeguard against bias, errors and unfounded
assumptions in scientific research
• By maintaining healthy skepticism, scientists strive to minimize the
risk of accepting false or unsubstantiated claims

• Iterative process
• Skepticism fosters an iterative process of inquiry, where hypotheses
are continually tested, refined or revised in light of new evidence or
insights
• Skeptical scrutiny drives scientific progress by uncovering flaws,
inconsistencies or limitations in existing theories and prompting
further investigation

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SKEPTICISM
• Promotes intellectual integrity
• Skepticism promotes intellectual integrity and honesty in scientific
research, encouraging scientists to acknowledge uncertainties,
limitations and complexities in their findings
• By embracing skepticism, scientists uphold the principles of
transparency, accountability and intellectual rigor in the pursuit of
knowledge
• Skepticism : Questioning everything
• It is a healthy doubt and critical questioning of information and
assumptions
• Scientists don’t simply accept claims at face value. They ask questions
like
• How do we know this is true?
• Is there evidence to support this claim?
• Could there be alternative explanations? 4
SKEPTICISM
• Benefits of skepticism
• Prevents bias
• Helps to guard against personal biases and preconceived notions that can
distort interpretations
• Promotes critical thinking
• It encourages scientists to analyze evidence thoroughly and identify potential
flaws in reasoning
• Ensures self-correction
• Scientific knowledge is constantly evolving
• Skepticism allows for reevaluating existing theories and revising them based
on new evidence

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EMPIRICISM
• Definition
• It is reliance on empirical evidence, obtained through observation,
experimentation and measurement, as the primary basis for acquiring
knowledge and understanding of the natural world

• Observation and experience

• Empiricism emphasizes the importance of direct observation and
sensory experience in acquiring knowledge
• Scientists gather empirical evidence by systematically observing
natural phenomena, conducting experiments or collecting data in a
structured and systematic manner

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EMPIRICISM
• Objective inquiry
• Empiricism promotes objectivity in scientific inquiry, as empirical
evidence serves as a shared foundation for evaluating hypothesis and
theories
• By grounding conclusions in observable facts and data, scientists strive
to minimize subjective bias and personal interpretation in their
research

• Verification and falsification

• Empiricism involves the verification or falsification of hypothesis
through empirical testing.
• Hypothesis are subjected to rigorous empirical scrutiny, allowing
scientists to assess their validity and reliability based on empirical
evidence
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EMPIRICISM
• Foundation of scientific method
• Empiricism is integral to the scientific method, which relies on the
systematic collection and analysis of empirical evidence to test
hypothesis and formulate theories
• The scientific method embodies the principles of empiricism by
emphasizing the importance of observation, experimentation and
evidence-based reasoning in scientific inquiry

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EMPIRICISM
• Benefits of empiricism

• Provides objectivity
• By relying on direct observation and measurement, empiricism minimizes
the influence of subjective interpretations

• Supports replicability
• Scientific findings based on empirical evidence can be replicated by other
researchers, strengthening their validity

• Connects to the real world

• Scientific knowledge is grounded in the observable world, ensuring its
relevance and applicability

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SKEPTICISM AND EMPIRICISM
• The interplay

• Skepticism keeps empiricism honest, which ensures that observations

and data are interpreted critically and not taken at face value

• Empiricism provides foundation for skepticism. By grounding claims in

evidence, it allows for more objective evaluation of ideas

• Together skepticism and empiricism create powerful force in

science
• They help to distinguish between fact and fiction
• They ensure that scientific knowledge is reliable and evidence-based
• They promote a culture of critical thinking and continuous learning
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SKEPTICISM AND EMPIRICISM
• Example

• A scientist may observe a new plant species

• Skepticism would lead them to question its classification and seek

evidence to confirm its characteristics

• Through observation and analysis (empiricism), they can identify its

unique features and compare them to existing plant categories

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RATIONALISM AND SCIENTIFIC
TEMPER
A POWERFUL DUO

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Rationalism and scientific temper
• Rationalism: the power of reason
• Core principle
• Rationalism emphasizes the importance of reason and logic in acquiring
knowledge and understanding the world
• Building knowledge
• Rationalists believe that reason allows us to analyze information, identify
patterns and draw logical conclusions
• This forms the basis for scientific theories and explanations
• The role of evidence
• While rationalism emphasizes reason, it doesn’t disregard (not paying
attention to) evidence
• Logical reasoning is applied to analyze evidence and build a coherent
understanding of the world

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Rationalism and scientific temper
• Scientific temper: The foundation of inquiry

• Attitudinal approach
• It refers to a set of attitudes and characteristics that foster scientific thinking

• Key components
• Intellectual curiosity
• Skepticism
• Open-mindedness and
• Commitment to evidence-based reasoning

• Connecting with rationalism

• A scientific temper provides the foundation upon which rational thought is
applied in science
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Rationalism and scientific temper
• The synergy
• Critical thinking
• Scientific temper with its emphasis on skepticism and open-mindedness,
promotes critical thinking
• This allows scientists to analyze evidence objectively and identify potential
flaws in reasoning
• Refining ideas
• Rationalism, through logical analysis, helps scientists to refine their
understanding and develop more accurate explanations of phenomena
• Communication and collaboration
• Both rationalism and the scientific temper emphasize clarity and objectivity
in communication
• This facilitates collaboration among scientists and the sharing of knowledge

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Rationalism and scientific temper
Rationalism
• Logical reasoning
• Rationalism emphasizes the use of logical reasoning and systematic
thinking in scientific inquiry
• It underscores the importance of
• Formulating hypothesis
• Interpreting data and
• Drawing conclusions based on principles of logic and deductive reasoning

• Coherence and consistency

• It encourages scientists to construct logical frameworks and theoretical
models that are internally consistent and compatible with established
principles and observations
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Rationalism and scientific temper
Rationalism
• Theoretical deduction
• Rationalism involves making theoretical deductions and predictions
from general principles or theories
• It enables scientists to derive specific hypothesis or expectations from
broader conceptual frameworks, guiding empirical testing and
investigation

• Enhancement of understanding
• Rationalism contributes to advancement of scientific knowledge by
facilitating the synthesis and integration of empirical evidence into
coherent explanatory frameworks
• It enhances the understanding and predictability of natural
phenomena by organizing observations and data into logical structures
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Rationalism and scientific temper
Scientific temper
• Attitude of inquiry

• Scientific temper embodies an attitude of

• Inquiry
• Curiosity and
• Openness to new ideas

• It encourages individuals to
• Question assumptions
• Challenge conventional wisdom and
• Seek evidence-based explanations for natural phenomena

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Rationalism and scientific temper
Scientific temper
• Skepticism and critical thinking
• Scientific temper fosters a healthy skepticism towards
• Claims
• Hypothesis and
• Evidence
prompting rigorous evaluation and scrutiny of ideas
• Empirical orientation
• Scientific temper emphasizes empirical orientation by valuing direct
observation, experimentation and evidence-based reasoning in the
pursuit of knowledge
• It promotes objectivity and impartiality in scientific investigation,
prioritizing empirical evidence over subjective beliefs or biases

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Rationalism and scientific temper
Scientific temper
• Ethical conduct
• Scientific temper promotes ethical conduct and integrity in scientific
research
• It emphasizes
• Honesty
• Transparency and
• Accountability
in the reporting and dissemination (பரப்புதல்) of scientific findings, as well
as respect for the principles of scientific integrity and intellectual honesty

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Rationalism and scientific temper
• Example: Observing falling object
• Scientific temper
• Curiosity motivates observation
• Open-mindedness allows for considering different explanations
• Rationalism
• Scientists analyze observations and apply logic to develop theories about
gravity

• Beyond science
• The principles of rationalism and scientific temper can be applied to
various aspects of life beyond science
• These approaches encourage critical thinking, logical reasoning and
evidence-based decision making

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Rationalism Vs Scientific Temper
FEATURES RATIONALISM SCIENTIFIC TEMPER
Focus Reason and logic as the Attitudes and
primary tools for acquiring characteristics that support
knowledge scientific thinking
Role of Considered, but not always Emphasis on evidence-
evidence the sole basis for based reasoning
knowledge
Broader Can be applied to various Specific to scientific inquiry
application philosophical and
mathematical concepts

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