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1 - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 September 2023

David B. Teplow
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Summary

The central message of the introduction is one must understand science if one wants to do science well. This requires a holistic educational approach, one that not only teaches the whats and hows of science, but most critically, it's whys. Why is the sky blue? Why do normal cells turn into cancer cells? Why do we use the scientific method and from where did it come? Why would one want to be a scientist in the first place? Why is science done in the way it is, that is, what is the gestalt of science? The whats and whys of science are practical in nature. The whys, in contrast, encompass theoretical, philosophical, historical, and social underpinnings of science. The whys are particularly important now when the probity and veracity of science are being attacked, and people seek to replace actual facts with "alternative facts" (falsehoods) for political, religious, or economic purposes or out of plain ignorance.

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Chapter
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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Introduction
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.004
Available formats
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  • Introduction
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.004
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Introduction
  • David B. Teplow, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Philosophy and Practice of Science
  • Online publication: 17 September 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107360129.004
Available formats
×