How Scientific is Science?
Fischer, E.P.
Hochschule Holzen, Kirchstr. 8, D-79400 Kandern-Holzen, Germany
Science is usually characterized by several criteria such as the reproducibility of experimental results or the possibility to falsify a hypothesis. But does science actually proceed that way? Do scientists follow the rules discussed by philosophers or are they more concerned about other factors like emotions, aesthetic preferences or even dreams? Would it help science if one would help scientists to recognize that they proceed not only on a rational basis but that their feelings and their desire for beauty sometimes play more important roles? Could it be that scientists prefer other values to the truth? And how does this help with all the ethical problems that surround science these days? What are the forces that influenced crucial scientific developments? Several examples from the history of science (from Johannes Kepler to Werner Heisenberg and beyond) are discussed in this context making it more difficult to agree on the meaning of "scientific". Only if "scientific" is no longer defined by what philosophers say about the scientific methods but by what scientists really do can we say that science is scientific.
Fischer, E.P. (1995) Die aufschimmernde Nachtseite der Wissenschaft, Libelle Verlag, Lengwil
Fischer, E.P. (1996) Aristoteles, Einstein & Co., Piper Verlag, München
Fischer, E.P. (1997) Das Schöne und das Biest, Piper Verlag, München
| LOCATION |
DATE |
TIME |
| Lecture Hall I |
Thursday, April 9 |
11:30 am |