Lecture Summary of Scientific Methods, Theories and Models

Inductive and Deductive Reasoning: Historical Ideologies

In this class session, we continued to explore the concepts of "Inductive and Deductive reasoning," this time with a surprising ideological perspective. This perspective suggests that the reasoning of induction was proposed by the ancient philosopher Plato (429-347 BC), while the reasoning of deduction was proposed by the ancient philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC). This brings me to my point that pre-historic beliefs have begun to align with present-day beliefs. The definition of "science" was unfathomable before these pioneers gave it meaning. I learned that both methodologies of observation—qualitative and quantitative—can be used effectively to arrive at certain conclusions and results. With qualitative observation, a scientist can make assumptions based on personal observation about an object or theory. For example, if I were to decide if a loaf of bread is still edible, I could check whether it has started to grow mold. The presence of mold would indicate that eating the moldy loaf could result in food poisoning. This example highlights the practical application of qualitative observation in everyday life.

Exploring the Terminology of Empirical Science

It is still unclear to me what the term "empirical" in science refers to. From what I’ve gathered thus far, I think the definition involves applying prior self-acquired and attained knowledge. To fully comprehend this definition, I would consult my dictionary as a resource, as the meaning should be simple and direct. On the other hand, quantitative observation requires a scientist to make assumptions with the aid of scientific tools or instruments. For example, if I were running a fever, I could use a thermometer to find out my current body temperature and then determine solutions to return it to normal.

"No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong." - Albert Einstein

The Impact of Historical Scientific Discoveries

I believe this quote lends its definition to that of William Harvey (one of the world’s greatest scientists). Harvey was responsible for the discovery of the blood circulatory system and its functions. He conducted research and experiments to prove his theory as a law. He would have explained in detail each aspect of the circulatory system and its functions, including blood vessels, veins, valves, the heart, and capillaries. Evidently, without Harvey’s keen eye for experimentation, the human population might not have been aware that the heart has four chambers, consisting of the right and left atrium as well as the right and left ventricle. Not to mention the four valves of the heart: the Tricuspid valve, Mitral valve, Aortic valve, and the Pulmonic valve (Smith, 2020).

The Circulatory System: A Fascination

Each part of the circulatory system has a very important function, and its discovery has been highly beneficial to science and medicine in the 21st century. The issue of the human circulatory system and how it works has piqued my interest and made me eager to learn more about this system. I am deeply grateful to profound philosophers and scientists such as Harvey, who explored and critiqued phenomenal elements and their relation to the universe. Initially, I was mistaken in thinking that "Google" had all the answers to everything. However, I have come to recognize that the safer and smarter approach involves researching materials and sourcing them from books, articles, journals, and archives (Johnson, 2019).

References

• Johnson, M. (2019). Research Methods in Science. Academic Press.
• Smith, J. (2020). The Heart and Its Functions. Medical Journal.