QUESTION 1
In the second paragraph on page 101, Bacon “gives a word of general counsel that what ones mind dwells upon should be held in suspicion. What is he saying and why is this important?
QUESTION 2
In his discussion of Descartes, Sedlacek discusses the role of assumptions in scientific theories. What is that role? What kinds of assumptions can cause problems?
QUESTION 3
In his book Economics, Paul Samuelson promises scientific knowledge, free from doubt, free from metaphysics, morals, and personal conviction. This is what Descartes tried to do for science in general. Was he successful? (see Chapter 5 in Sedlacek)
QUESTION 4
From your Backhouse reading, Describe Poppers Falsification approach to the Scientific Method. How does it differ from Kuhns Paradigm approach? Are all well accepted paradigms falsifiable theories? What must happen for a new falsifiable theory to become an accepted paradigm?
In addition to SedlacekCh 5 and BackhouseChapters 6 & 7 please also read the short excerpt on Francis Bacon (You might want to read that first sincehewas the firsdto write on the scientific method.