21 NOV 2017 by ideonexus
Evolutionary History Through Macro and Micro Observations
Everything in the cosmos has a history. The old dichotomy between the "historical" sciences (like geology, paleontology and evolutionary biology) and the (for want of a better term) "functional" sciences (like physics and chemistry—some would call them the "real sciences") was always supposed to be that fields like physics study dynamic processes and discover immutable laws of interaction among particles composing the cosmos—while the historical sciences study, well, history—the suppose... 1 
notes
notes19 APR 2013 by ideonexus
The Birth of Political Science in Ancient Greece
With the Greeks, education was an important part of polity. Men were formed for
their country, much more than for themselves, or their family. This principle can only
be embraced by commonities little populous, in which it is more pardonable to
suppose a national interest, separate from the common interest of humanity. It is
practicable only in countries where the most painful labours of culture and of the arts
are performed by slaves. This branch of education was restricted almost entirely t...Folksonomies: history political science
Folksonomies: history political science
1 notes
notesIt is also the study of human beings.
05 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
The Growth and Stages of Scientific Knowledge
In its earliest development knowledge is self-sown. Impressions force themselves upon men’s senses whether they will or not, and often against their will. The amount of interest in which these impressions awaken is determined by the coarser pains and pleasures which they carry in their train or by mere curiosity; and reason deals with the materials supplied to it as far as that interest carries it, and no further. Such common knowledge is rather brought than sought; and such ratiocination i... 1 notes
notesInto aesthetic pleasure to recognizing the continuous series of causes in nature.
05 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Science Goals VS Society Goals
To this day, we see all around us the Promethean drive to omnipotence through technology and to omniscience through science. The effecting of all things possible and the knowledge of all causes are the respective primary imperatives of technology and of science. But the motivating imperative of society continues to be the very different one of its physical and spiritual survival. It is now far less obvious than it was in Francis Bacon's world how to bring the three imperatives into harmony, a... 1 notes
notesScience seeks omniscience, while society seeks survival and spiritualism.
04 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Metaphor for the Spread of Disease
To choose a rough example, think of a thorn which has stuck in a finger and produces an inflammation and suppuration. Should the thorn be discharged with the pus, then the finger of another individual may be pricked with it, and the disease may be produced a second time. In this case it would not be the disease, not even its product, that would be transmitted by the thorn, but rather the stimulus which engendered it. Now supposing that the thorn is capable of multiplying in the sick body, or ...Folksonomies: metaphor
Folksonomies: metaphor
1 Like spreading thorns.
02 FEB 2012 by ideonexus
The Positive Mind
In the final, the positive, state, the mind has given over the vain search after absolute notions, the origin and destination of the universe, and the causes of phenomena, and applies itself to the study of their laws—that is, their invariable relations of succession and resemblance. Reasoning and observation, duly combined, are the means of this knowledge. What is now understood when we speak of an explanation of facts is simply the establishment of a connection between single phenomena an... 1 notes
notesDoesn't concern itself with absolute truth, but is focused on laws and how facts tie into them.
28 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Better to be a Perfected Ape than Degraded Adam
As for me ... I would much rather be a perfected ape than a degraded Adam. Yes, if it is shown to me that my humble ancestors were quadrupedal animals, arboreal herbivores, brothers or cousins of those who were also the ancestors of monkeys and apes, far from blushing in shame for my species because of its genealogy and parentage, I will be proud of all that evolution has accomplished, of the continuous improvement which takes us up to the highest order, of the successive triumphs that have m... 1 notes
notesA quote from Paul Broca about being proud of our evolutionary advancement.
14 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
A Early Definition of Human Social Progress
Disease is largely a removable evil. It continues to afflict humanity, not only because of incomplete knowledge of its causes and lack of individual and public hygiene, but also because it is extensively fostered by harsh economic and industrial conditions and by wretched housing in congested communities. ... The reduction of the death rate is the principal statistical expression and index of human social progress. It means the saving and lengthening of lives of thousands of citizens, the ext...That emphasizes a reduction in the death rate and argues that this is something we can do through education and improving the quality of life.
11 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Newton's Discovery of Gravity as an Example of Induction ...
All the knowledge we possess of external objects is founded upon experience, which furnishes facts; and the comparison of these facts establishes relations, from which induction, the intuitive belief that like causes will produce like effects, leads to general laws. Thus, experience teaches that bodies fall at the surface of the earth with an accelerated velocity, and with a force proportional to their masses. By comparison, Newton proved that the force which occasions the fall of bodies at t... 1 notes
notesHe extended the force pulling everything down to the Earth out to the Moon, then to the Sun, and then the planets to see how our solar system really works.
25 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
Focus on Common Things
And first, for those things which seem common. Let men bear in mind that hitherto they have been accustomed to do no more than refer and adapt the causes of things which rarely happen to such as happen frequently, while of those which happen frequently they never ask the cause, but take them as they are for granted. And therefore they do not investigate the causes of weight, of the rotation of heavenly bodies, of heat, cold, light, hardness, softness, rarity, density, liquidity, solidity, ani... 1 notes
notesWe overlook the common in scientific inquiry, but it is in the common occurrences that the laws of nature are to be found.
