Again, I see relations between this course and Michael Shermer’s book, Why People Believe Weird Things. In his book, Shermer mentions an Amicus Curiae Brief, which defines science well. This is not my definition, but it is still a good prospective to gain.
As for my definition of science, I would be inclined to say that science is a way that people study a system to garner knowledge about the way that system works (the system is often nature). Science uses reasoning, testing, empirical evidence to come up with this knowledge. This knowledge is tentative, subject to disproof.
I define "religion" as: A study, practice or organization that requires the following: faith or belief in supernatural or relatively unprovable events, causality, or objects (including animate objects). It usually involves a higher power or deity. I then define a "science" as: a body of knowledge about nature/the nature of the universe wherein most knowledge is either testable or provable, and usually resting on basic assumptions or laws.
A link to the Amicus Curiae Brief is: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/edwards-v-aguillard/amicus1.html. I would have liked to find another source for the text of the Brief, but I could not. This source is a little garbled, but still usable.
A discussion forum for the Teaching Company's Science & Religion course. "Two crucial forces, science and religion, helped shape Western civilization and continue to interact in our daily lives. What is the nature of their relationship? When do they conflict, and how do they influence each other in pursuit of knowledge and truth?"
These posts are based on questions written by participatnts after viewing the lectures.
Again, I see relations between this course and Michael Shermer’s book, Why People Believe Weird Things. In his book, Shermer mentions an Amicus Curiae Brief, which defines science well. This is not my definition, but it is still a good prospective to gain.
ReplyDeleteAs for my definition of science, I would be inclined to say that science is a way that people study a system to garner knowledge about the way that system works (the system is often nature). Science uses reasoning, testing, empirical evidence to come up with this knowledge. This knowledge is tentative, subject to disproof.
I define "religion" as: A study, practice or organization that requires the following: faith or belief in supernatural or relatively unprovable events, causality, or objects (including animate objects). It usually involves a higher power or deity.
ReplyDeleteI then define a "science" as: a body of knowledge about nature/the nature of the universe wherein most knowledge is either testable or provable, and usually resting on basic assumptions or laws.
A link to the Amicus Curiae Brief is: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/edwards-v-aguillard/amicus1.html. I would have liked to find another source for the text of the Brief, but I could not. This source is a little garbled, but still usable.
ReplyDelete