Science is often defined inadequately as “an organized body of knowledge.” This would make cookbooks, Sears, Roebuck catalogues, and telephone books science, which they are not. Sometimes science is defined simply as rationality, but that would make much of theology and metaphysics science, which they are not. Rationality is logical consistency, lack of contradiction. It is to be distinguished from reasonableness, the quality of a mind open to arguments and evidence opposed to its beliefs: a willingness to reconsider. Rationalists can be quite unreasonable or dogmatic. Rationalist metaphysicians and theologians are often certain about premises which come from intuition or revelation. Even paranoiacs may be thought of as rationalists, for they are commonly most rigorous in reasoning. But their premises, which they cling to in spite of all evidence, are absurd.

WHAT SCIENCE IS

Science is empirical, rational, general, and cumulative; and it is all four at once. Science is empirical in that all its conclusions are subject to test by sense experience. Observation is the base on which science rests, but scientific observation is more than keeping one’s eyes open. It is observation made by qualified observers under controlled conditions of those things which confirm or disconfirm, verify or refute a theory. Sherlock Holmes* could tell by the stains on a vest what a man had eaten for breakfast. From a number of such observations he arrived at a theory about why and how a particular crime was committed. This procedure is excellent for detection but insufficient for science, because it yields only knowledge of particular events. Science would go on to ask why and how crime, not a particular crime, is committed. Science uses facts to test general theories and general theories to make predictions about particular facts.

Scientific observations may be made of things as they exist, like the color of an apple or the temperature of the air, or it may be made of what results from an experiment. An experiment is the deliberate manipulation of conditions in order to bring about what we want to observe. If we want to test the hypothesis that a new plastic can withstand two hundred pounds of pressure without crumbling, we may have to create a situation in which such pressure is applied to a piece of the plastic, because it is unlikely that the situation already exists anywhere in the world, or if it does, that all other factors are kept constant. In some sciences, like astronomy, we do not sufficiently control the subject matter to experiment on it—although we do control the conditions of observation—and we distinguish those sciences from others, like chemistry, in which experiment is possible, by calling the latter “experimental sciences.”

Although all scientific thought ultimately rests on observation, there are vast portions of it which are entirely rational: analysis of the meaning of terms, deductions from existent theories, explorations of the logical relations among concepts and among theories. Logic is applied to science constantly because logic contains the rules of valid thinking. The application of mathematics is often thought, erroneously, to be an index of the status of any science. Of course, the more it can be applied usefully within a science, the more advanced the science. For mathematics functions both as a language in which scientific laws are stated, giving them the utmost precision, elegance, and economy, and as the basis of measurement. Many of the most significant advances in physics, astronomy, and chemistry have depended on advances in and application of mathematics. Without calculus the work of Isaac Newton would have been impossible. Yet great scientific work in other fields, performed by men like Pasteur, Darwin, and Pavlov (with whose names pasteurization, evolution, and conditioned response in psychology are associated), has used little or no mathematics.

In the final sentence of the first paragraph, the authors choose to use the word “absurd” in order to



A- demonstrate that even sound premises can lead to irrational conclusions

B- argue that evidence that seems illogical should not be considered by scientists

C-emphasize a previous distinction between rationality and reasonableness

D- imply that too much rigor can lead to nonsensical inferences

E- convey disdain for those who display uncertainty about their premises

Answer:

I think the answer is D-imply that too much rigor can lead to nonsensical inferences

Explanation:

Can someone help me write a love sonnet

Read the following passage:
Amid the many horrors of the Vietnam War, I found one of
the worst to be the waiting - those quiet times of inactivity
when anticipation of the next attack weighed on me like a
pile of bricks. I might be lying in the mud along a creek bed
somewhere, completely oblivious to the cold, the wet
earth, or the smell of gunpowder still fresh in my noshils. It
was those times of waiting that showed me I had nothing
else in my mind
no past, no future, no ideas. Just a raw
awareness of the moment.
Which sentence best uses figurative language to match the paragraph's tone?
• A. In the quiet of the jungle, the rippling sounds of the creek carried
me back to happier days on my parents' farm.
• B. could hear my own pulse drumming in my ears, but my only
thought was to remain still and quiet.
C. For years after that, I would remember the terror and suspense of
those long minutes spent waiting.
• D. The jungle had reached into my mind, and its thick vines choked
out everything else that had been there.

figures of speech
toivo is the cancer of my dreams and aspirations

What is the theme of dump by xj kennedy

How is public enterprises created​

Compare the characters of Hedda Gabler and Daisy Miller: A Study. Both are the inventions of realist writers, but which character seems to offer a higher degree of morally ambiguity? Explain your answer with at least 150 words.

"The doors to the castle swung open, inviting me in" is an example of...
onomatopoeia
alliteration
personification
simile​

Which situation is most clearly ironic?
O A. A contest between two chess grand masters
B. A series of quick exchanges between two pals
O C. A sweater sale on the hottest day of the year
OD. A gazebo on a lonely hilltop during a huge storm

out of all of us, jash was the one

Read the passage.
She realized that her neighbors were made up of all kinds
of people. They held different jobs, had different-sized
families, and had different needs. They all were just trying
to do the best they could. What interested her was that
while not everyone was good, they did all make a
community. Mr. Hall had shown his true prejudice. Ms.
Jessica turned a blind eye to the hungry Bower kids next
door. But my mother secretly left cookies on old man
Smith's door. And Mrs. Dourney always made time to say
hello to passersby.
D
Which common literary theme is best illustrated by this passage?
O A. The pain of isolation
OB. The ineffectiveness of words
Ο Ο Ο Ο
C. The coexistence of good and evil
O D. The struggle against nature

Challenge Question What's this
Francisco says, "Third, the classrooms are spacious." As
used by Francisco, which of the following scenarios
accurately describes something that is also spacious?
le
highlight text
on
A
Entering the front door, James accidentally bumps his he
the low hanging doorframe.

Can someone give me a good starting claim why “women’s menstrual products should be free”

Which is the meaning of passive as it is used in the sentence?


A disturbed

B functional

C inactive

D learning

Plssss help ASAP thankyou

Can someone please help me type a historic perspective essay? in my own words, 17 points to whoever can type a historic perspective essay right here and now please help

I need slotion
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1. what are the differences and similarities between
the two images?​

What does “the wind is filled with laughter and cries” mean?

use these words in a short story

6. PART B: Which paragraph from the text best
supports the answer to PART A?
A Paragraph 12
B Paragraph 16
C Paragraph 31
D Paragraph 34
Obama commonlit

Where do TUTLES live?​

11. Decide if the statement is true or false.
A universal theme is specific to one story.
True
False
True or false??

Ann is on holiday, isn't she or doesn't she

​

How does marriage affect family ties within this play and in the real world?

8. Which is not a factual statement?
A. Boracay, Albay, Siargao are some of the beautiful places in the Philippines.
B. Spirituality is the most important thing in the world.
C. The eyes, ears and nose are parts of the human body.
D. The planet in the solar system that is closest to the sun is Mercury.​

BRAINLIEST ANSWER FAST
Which two themes interact in “The Man Who Was Almost A Man”? Select all that apply
A.) Mules and manual labor were used to perform much of the work on farms that is now done by machines.
B.) Racial inequality still existed even though the slaves were set free after the Civil War.
C.) Dave is rebelling against his situation and trying to prove that he is a man by buying a gun and escaping by hopping a freight train
D.) African Americans were breaking with their past and their ties to the South to search for new opportunities elsewhere.

When the Los Angeles reporters interview Percy, how does he get back at Gabe?

Which of the following is the best central idea for the paragraph below?
​
​Do you wear glasses? Make sure your glasses fit well. The earpieces should be at eye level. Don’t try to adjust the earpieces yourself. Take your glasses for adjustments to the place you bought them. Keep your glasses in a case when you’re not wearing them. This will prevent scratches. Keep the lenses clean. A soft cloth is best for cleaning.
A
There are many steps to take care of your glasses
B
Wearing glasses is fun
C
It is very easy to care for your glasses
D
Wearing glasses is nerdy

Are these phrases cumulative adjectives or coordinate adjectives?
-coiled hissing snake
-damp dreary day
-fragrant crusty bread
-tall handsome hero
-wild crazy cat

Please write whether each of the following statements is coordinate or cumulative.

STEAL MY POINTS UR DU M
According to the speaker, why is the boot more famous than the dress shoe? Explain the meaning behind this statement in the poem.