Class 12 - Thinking about Science
Today’s class
Today we’re going to be moving on to talk about science. We may have read all these old books about knowledge, and be thinking, “Wait! But hasn’t science solved all our problems around knowledge? Isn’t science real knowledge?” Well… maybe! Let’s see.
Checking in
- How’s it going?
- How is the essay going?
- Do you have any problems or difficulties?
- Do you need class time to help you work on the essay?
What is Science?
Let’s explore the question of scientific knowledge. Write for five minutes in response to the following prompt: “What is scientific knowledge? How is it different from other kinds of knowledge? And how important is it?”
The Meaning of Meaning
To introduce Rovelli, we’re going to watch a short film called The Meaning of Meaning. YouTube
Discussion
- What struck you most about the Rovelli film?
- What inspired you?
- What, according to Rovelli, is the essence of science?
- What do you think Rovelli means by science being “an awareness that our body of knowledge is limited?”
- Rovelli suggests that his claim that the world is relational has broad cultural implications. What do you think he means by this, and what are these implications?
Science, Philosophy and Wonder
Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, says that philosophy — by which he means all kinds of rational inquiry, from history to philosophy to science — beings with wonder. It begins with us sitting up and saying, “wow… what’s going on here?” Think of the way, as a child, you had all kinds of questions about the world. This is wonder.
Writing exercise
What did you wonder about about as a kid? What questions did you ask? Write for ten minutes.
If we have time, we’ll discuss this in breakout groups.
Homework
In this week’s sessions we’re moving from philosophy to science, for your homework, I want you to read Carlo Rovelli’s paper, ‘Physics Needs Philosophy. Philosophy Needs Physics’, Foundations of Physics 2018 (ISSN: 1572-9516). It’s reading 07 on canvas.