PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy of Science and Research Methodology 2

Question 1

Bas van Fraassen's 'constructive empiricism' claims that the goal of science is:

Accepted Answer

To produce theories that are empirically adequate with respect to observable phenomena

Answer

Van Fraassen's constructive empiricism holds that science aims only for empirical adequacy — accurate prediction of observables — without committing to the truth of claims about unobservables.

Question 2

The 'no-miracles argument' for scientific realism holds that:

Accepted Answer

The predictive success of science would be miraculous unless scientific theories are approximately true

Answer

Hilary Putnam's no-miracles argument asserts that the extraordinary success of scientific theories in prediction and explanation would be an inexplicable miracle if those theories did not approximately describe reality.

Question 3

Paul Feyerabend's 'epistemological anarchism' is best summarized by which claim?

Accepted Answer

There is no single scientific method, and 'anything goes' in scientific practice

Answer

Feyerabend argued in Against Method that no single methodological rule has never been violated by successful science, so 'anything goes' best describes actual scientific practice.

Question 4

In research methodology, the distinction between 'quantitative' and 'qualitative' methods primarily concerns:

Accepted Answer

Whether data is expressed numerically or through interpretive, non-numerical description

Answer

Quantitative methods involve numerical data and statistical analysis, while qualitative methods involve non-numerical data such as interviews, observations, and thematic analysis.

Question 5

The 'pessimistic meta-induction' is an argument against scientific realism that reasons:

Accepted Answer

Past scientific theories were successful yet later proven false, so current theories are probably also false

Answer

The pessimistic meta-induction, associated with Larry Laudan, argues that because many past successful theories (phlogiston, caloric) were replaced, we should expect current theories are also false.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy of Science and Research Methodology 2