Peter Truran

Introduction: A Personal Perspective

The philosophy of science, when it speaks directly to scientists, provides inspiration and guidance as to the best state of mind required to approach the process of scientific inquiry. It can provide guidance to those embarking on a research career and those entrusted with the education of young scientists.

More on Induction and Justification

There is no logical process by which science moves from observations to testable hypotheses. Rather, the progress of science depends upon the creative making of informed guesses and then subjecting them to criticism. We must cultivate the highest critical standards towards our own work so that we can identify and eliminate error as efficiently and rigorously as possible.

Scientific Thinking: Being Rational?

The reasoning processes employed in the resolution of research problems, in the analysis and evaluation of scientific data, and in the assessment of experimental results, may be complex. Critical thinking is not something that can be applied mechanistically or simplistically, but is a skill that needs development and practice.

Seeing is Not Necessarily Believing

The instruments we use to test our hypotheses themselves embody hypotheses, and consequently they embody the uncertainties that are an integral element of all hypotheses. We need also be aware of the theoretical constraints that are embodied within the devices we use to make our measurements and observations of the world.

A Question of Trust

The high profile cases of scientific misconduct which have surfaced in recent years have highlighted the need for guidelines to help researchers avoid drifting over the line into fraud, and to ensure that honest researchers are in a position to effectively guard themselves against such accusations. Ultimately, the integrity and credibility of science depends upon the intellectual honesty of its researchers.

Science, Non-Science and Pseudoscience

Science is under attack from those who believe that truth is relative and from those who reject the critical standards of science in favor of comforting pseudoscientific beliefs. Be prepared to defend science by understanding the philosophy of science so that you can marshal your arguments against pseudoscience.

Models: Useful but Not True

Our theories are, to some extent, models of reality. Like all models, a theory or hypothesis will tell us a truth about an aspect of reality, but it will not be the whole truth. All models are approximations of reality. Understand the limitations and assumptions of any theoretical model that you are using.

Just Be …… Cause

It may be extraordinarily difficult to unequivocally demonstrate a causal relationship. Presenting clear evidence of causality will be of particular importance for the researcher when it becomes necessary to convince others of a relationship that will be the basis for decision-making and social policy issues.

What’s the Problem?

In order to make a new contribution to his field of knowledge, the researcher will need to identify a significant problem within his chosen field, a choice that may have profound career implications. Identify a problem which is of an appropriate scope—neither too safe, nor too ambitious—and which is likely to have a solution.

The Solutions to Problems

Hypotheses are tentative solutions to problems. They are guesses, or conjectures, but they are not wild guesses; they are guesses made by informed and creative minds. Even after such rigorous testing any scientific theory or hypothesis may be ultimately replaced one that is superior. In this sense all scientific knowledge is regarded as being provisional.