27 JUL 2018 by ideonexus
With Educational Games, Even if the Kids Don't Get It, Yo...
...where does probability theory come from? What is its source? Clearly, like many other sciences, like arithmetic itself, probability theory emerged from observations of certain real-world phenomena, namely, random, unpredictable phenomena. And it is exactly these kinds of observations—fundamental to the formation of science—which are worth making together with kids. Well, not all of them, of course, just the simplest ones. Besides, kids are making them on their own; e.g., when they play... 1 
notes
notes13 MAR 2014 by ideonexus
Perceiving Infinite Suns in the Night Sky
Elpino. Why then do we not see the other bright bodies which are earths circling around the bright bodies which are suns? For beyond these we can detect no motion whatever; and why do all other mundane bodies (except those known as comets) appear always in the same order and at the same distance?
Philotheo. The reason is that we discern only the largest suns, immense bodies. But we do not discern the earths because, being much smaller, they are invisible to us. Similarly it is not impossible... 1 notes
notesBruno's observations and reasoning.
30 DEC 2013 by ideonexus
Men of Science Must Combat Errors
After those few observations upon the properties of matter either organized or inert, (to which I know every Chemist in the country, whose science has conquered the bigotry of his education, will give his assent) I would call upon them all and every one to stand forward and teach mankind those important, those plain truths, which are so clear and so familiar to their own minds. It is the Man of Science who is alone capable of making war upon the Priest, so as to silence him effectually. It is... 1 notes
notesOr else what reason is their to all their studies?
15 NOV 2013 by ideonexus
Observations are Grounded in Language
What are observations? Some philosophers have taken them to be sensory events: the occurrence of smells, feels, noises, color patches. This way lies frustration. What we ordinarily notice and testify to are rather the objects and events out in the world. It is to these that our very language is geared, because language is a social institution, learned from other people who share the scene to which the words refer. Observation sentences, like theoretical sentences, are for the most part senten... 1 notes
notesNot senses.
24 MAR 2013 by ideonexus
Imagination Builds On Our Experiences
...you can’t have a storage space that is
filled to the brim with boxes. How would
you ever come inside? Where would you
pull out the boxes to find what you need?
How would you even see what boxes
were available and where they might be
found? You need space. You need light.
You need to be able to access your attic’s
contents, to walk inside and look around
and see what is what.
And within that space, there is freedom.
You can temporarily place there all of the
observations you’ve gathe...Folksonomies: knowledge imagination
Folksonomies: knowledge imagination
1 notes
notesIt works within the confines of what we know and how we can work with that knowledge.
23 MAR 2013 by ideonexus
The Scientific Method is About the "Elementary"
When we think of the scientific method, we tend to think of an experimenter in his laboratory, probably holding a test tube and wearing a white coat, who follows a series of steps that runs something like this: make some observations about a phenomenon; create a hypothesis to explain those observations; design an experiment to test the hypothesis; run the experiment; see if the results match your expectations; rework your hypothesis if you must; lather, rinse, and repeat. Simple seeming enoug...Folksonomies: scientific method mindfulness
Folksonomies: scientific method mindfulness
1 notes
notesEven academicians working in the most erudite realms of knowledge are working from a foundation of firmly-established elementary principles.
08 JAN 2013 by ideonexus
Science is Monism
Monism is the default worldview of natural science. In science, an explanation has to be grounded in empirical evidence. In a slightly different take, for a statement to be considered a scientific explanation, it must be falsifiable—there has to be some kind of test that could be applied to the statement to prove it wrong. For example, the statement that the moon is made of cheese is a scientific statement because it can be falsified. Facts can be brought to bear on the claim (such as the d... 1 notes
notesScientific statements must be falsifiable.
21 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Happiness Comes from Finding Balance
I do not believe that science per se is an adequate source of happiness, nor do I think that my own scientific outlook has contributed very greatly to my own happiness, which I attribute to defecating twice a day with unfailing regularity. Science in itself appears to me neutral, that is to say, it increases men's power whether for good or for evil. An appreciation of the ends of life is something which must be superadded to science if it is to bring happiness, but only the kind of society to... 1 notes
notesBertrand Russell's observations in his old age.
12 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Don't Look at the Whole Universe
It is not therefore the business of philosophy, in our present situation in the universe, to attempt to take in at once, in one view, the whole scheme of nature; but to extend, with great care and circumspection, our knowledge, by just steps, from sensible things, as far as our observations or reasonings from them will carry us, in our enquiries concerning either the greater motions and operations of nature, or her more subtile and hidden works. In this way Sir Isaac Newton proceeded in his d...Folksonomies: understanding perspective
Folksonomies: understanding perspective
1 notes
notesLook to tiny, incremental things to understand the universe bit by bit.
04 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Big Bang Does Not Preclude a Creator
Hubble's observations suggested that there was a time, called the big bang, when the universe was infinitesimally small and infinitely dense. Under such conditions all the laws of science, and therefore all ability to predict the future, would break down. If there were events earlier than this time, then they could not affect what happens at the present time. Their existence can be ignored because it would have no observational consequences. One may say that time had a beginning at the big ba... 1 notes
notesBut sets limits on when it did the creating.
