In this Episode, I discuss some systematic ways in which discoveries are made in science. This follows on from Episode 13 (A, B) which introduced thought and real experiments. In this Episode I look at methods - systematic ways - to go about scientific discoveries. There are three methods: two different forms of induction and deduction. Induction works either by inferring from some to all cases (from 'some ravens are black' to 'all ravens are black') or by the method of elimination: use the evidence to eliminate the wrong explanation. To illustrate the latter method (also known as abduction) I compare the work of a scientist who tries to solve problems, to the work of a detective who tries to solve a crime. The detective uses evidence ('clues') to eliminate potential suspects in order to identify the real culprit. The scientist uses evidence in order to identify the real solution to a scientific problem from amongst possible solutions. In between the two methods stands deductivism: according to this method a scientist makes a hypothesis - a bold conjecture - and then submits it to rigorous tests.

Literature:

I discuss these methods in more detail in two books: Friedel Weinert, Copernicus, Darwin & Freud (2009) and Karl Popper-Professional Philosopher and Public Intellectual (2022).