What is science?According to the definition of Baidu Encyclopedia, science is an orderly knowledge system based on the explanation of testable explanations and the form of objective things and organizations. It is a systematic and formalized knowledge.The object is objective phenomenon, the content is formal scientific theory, and the form is language.According to the definition of Wikipedia, science is a discipline that is attributed to phenomena through empirical empirical methods (originally referring to natural phenomena, and now refers to the phenomenon of social phenomena).
Personally, I think the definition of Wikihiries is better because “empirical empirical” is mentioned.But this definition is too general and cannot be satisfactory.I think it can be explained from the process (methodology) and scientific basic characteristics of scientific knowledge.
From the perspective of methodology:
The first is to observe and observe the phenomena of the natural world; then put forward assumptions that in order to expose the origin of the world and the truth of nature, the root cause of the root cause of the important role is attributed toThe main factor of the unprecedented philosophy is logical reasoning and practical verification. Practice is the only criterion for testing truth.If the degree of experimental fit reaches a certain standard, you can propose the theory within a certain scope of application.If the verification cannot fit the assumptions, it can only be pushed down until success.
From the perspective of basic characteristics:
The first is that the theory of science must be specific.The prerequisite, derivation process, theoretical results need to be specific, not to be interpreted as ambiguous or at will, and can stand the test of any person.At the same time, it is necessary to circulate and not be contrary to the facts in accordance with the prerequisites (that is, the scope of application).
The second is to have proven pseudo (private thought that this is the most important feature of scientific theory).The pseudo -pseudo -only means that “possible” is falsified, not to say that it will be falsified.If a doctrine is “impossible” in theory and fundamentally, then the doctrine is meaningless and cannot become a scientific theory.For example, some people claim that the cause of an earthquake is that there is a “invisible” snake under the ground. It is usually sleeping, and an earthquake will occur if it moves.”Invisible” in this theory means that it cannot be verified, and no one can prove that this big snake does not exist, because “invisible”, then this theory is fundamentally unlikely to be faked.Perspective cannot be a theory.
The third is predictability.From scientific theory, input X must be able to obtain some clear predictions Y, which must be tested and proven pseudo -can be available.Each prophecy is consistent with the results of the observation, and the theoretical reliability is added, but as long as there is no consistency with the actual results, as long as there is a counter -example, it is enough to prove that the theory is wrong, then it needs to be revised.Constantly revised and verified until new scientific theory was established.
The fourth is repeatability.Any scientific experiment or scientific prophecy can be repeatedly verified. Anyone who enters the same X, and he will definitely get the same result y.The theory that cannot be reproduced is not a qualified scientific theory.It can be said that the same X must be universal, that is, this condition can be obtained many times. It cannot be said that there is only one occasion that meets this condition once. If you miss it, you can no longer be tested.
Fifth, there is a scope of application in each scientific theory.The theory can only explain all known phenomena within the scope of applicability, and to predict or explain the present prediction or explanation outside the scope.Each scientific theory has boundary, and scientific exploration activities are constantly extending existing boundaries.
Sixth, self -correction and scalability.The methodology described in the previous article, that is, continuously observe, assumes, and verify to ensure that theory is getting closer to objective truth.Therefore, the scientific theory allows errors, or it is correct within the scope of applications, but there are errors that are allowed outside the scope. The latter theory is to “error correction” the previous theory within a larger scope of applications.For example, when Newton’s theory predicts Mercury’s running track, there is a problem with Mercury’s swimming problem (43 corners of the secondary seconds will be generated every 100 years, which cannot be consistent with the theoretical prediction).Prophecy, the scope of the general theory of general relativity is wider.Under the existing observation accuracy, the predictions of relativity are perfectly consistent with all practical observation values. No counter -examples have been found so far, but as human observation accuracy continues to improve, it may be found that the theoretical value and observation value will be found.Then need better theory to correct.
The above is the most important feature I think of the scientific theory.According to this feature, I want to explain that some things I don’t think is science.The first is that things that cannot be observed or have not been proven to exist are not science, such as Feng Shui, Ghosts, Super Power, etc. You cannot prove that existing or prove that there is no existence, no prediction, and no repetitiveness.The second is that the theory dominated by subjective feelings is not science.Such as literature, art, philosophy.The third is that technology is not science.We often talk about science and technology. In fact, science is science, technology is technology, and the two are clear.Science is an exploration of the essential laws of natural phenomena and discovery of existing “things”, and invention is something that does not directly exist in nature.Fourth, it is not science except the exploration and summary of the laws of natural phenomena.Most humanities, such as psychology and economics, are not science.These disciplines are too harsh, and the applicability is too weak (the scope of applications is too small), and it is difficult to make repeated verification. For example, the economics theory requires rational people to assume that the company is not in line with the actual facts with profits.There are too many prerequisites for predictions, which cannot be satisfied in real society. What’s more important is that the establishment of the prediction is highly probably decided to control human nature. Therefore, it is difficult to repeat verification and cannot be regarded as science.
