Teaching the Philosophy of Science with Non-Scientific Examples
ABSTRACT: This essay explores the benefits of utilizing non-scientific examples and analogies in teaching philosophy of science courses, or general introductory courses. These examples can help resolve two basic difficulties faced by most instructors, especially when teaching lower-level courses: first, they can prompt students to take an active interest in the class material, since the examples will involve aspects of the culture well-known to the students; second, these familiar, less-threatening examples will lessen the students' collective anxieties and open them up to learning the material more easily. To demonstrate this strategy of constructing and employing non-scientific examples, a lengthy analogy between musical styles and Kuhn's theory of scientific revolutions is developed.
Without a doubt, one of the most difficult tasks in teaching undergraduate philosophy courses is motivating the students to take an active interest in the abstract and complex issues normally presented. One obvious method of overcoming this dilemma is to provide numerous historical examples and analogies of the relevant philosophical problem, since concrete instances are frequently less complicated than general descriptions, articulate the main points more clearly, and have the added bonus of being more "personal" and relatable. Thus, if one were presenting, say, Imre Lakatos theory of scientific research programs, describing the conflict between the Ptolemaic and Copernican views would serve as an excellent backdrop for the introduction of Lakatos' ideas. Nevertheless, if the students are unfamiliar and/or bored by the kinds of examples employed, the strategy will, of course,...
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...eme be introduced in the development section? // (rock) Can the song last for more than three minutes?
4) Techniques for answering questions (and standards of success): (class.) Yes, but as long as it doesn't undermine the recapitulation. // Yes, but don't expect much radio air play, or video exposure.
5) Exemplars (successful previous application of theory): (class.) a sonata form movement by one of the acknowledged master, such as Haydn, Mozart, etc. // a hit song by one of the great rock bands, such as Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.
6) Incommensurability: 'theme' in classical sonata form is designed for maximum development capacity, and is (usually) in either tonic or dominant key // 'theme' in rock music is usually designed for maximum melodic capacity, must allow lyrics to be set to the theme, and may not strictly follow the tonic-dominant tonal scheme.
Music of the 1700s is often characterized as highly structured and balanced. A favorite form for pieces of many kinds was the sonata form, which relies heavily on the basic movement between different tonalities (especially tonic and dominant or relative major). Ludwig van Beethoven wrote over 30 sonatas for piano alone and used the structure for symphonies and many other instrumental works. Most other composers of the classical time period also used sonata form, and music historians have spent much time discussing why this might be so. Some historians pose this question strictly within a musical world: How did earlier musical structures give rise to sonata form? Others ask what it was in the surrounding historical context that made sonata form appealing.
From early 1770's to the end of the eighteenth century the concept of the symphonic style and sonata style dominated most of the music composed. These forms ,employed countless times by Mozart and Haydn, stayed relatively constant up until the end of the eighteenth century when Beethoven began to extend this Viennese classical tradition. Many musicologists have put forward the idea
“Science is not a body of facts. Science is a state of mind” (Angier 490). While both essays, “The Canon” by Natalie Angier, and “Scientific Literacy and the Habit of Discourse” by Thomas W. Martin, discuss the fact that science is practiced through actions and is not a set of facts to be learned; these two articles approach the topic differently. By using different rhetorical modes and having alternate styles, these two articles appear different; but they contain the same foundation of science and make similar points. Even though the article’s main points have similarities, the essays also contain many differences through their rhetorical mode, approach, and appeals.
Stager, Gary. "Questioning Homework's Worth." Curriculum Administrator Jan. 2001. Questia School. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.
happen? If not, then why should science teachers teach that life evolved over billions of
Energy drinks are promoted as beverages that offers alertness and increase intellectual and bodily performance. One energy drink is to have the same caffeine level as five cups of coffee. According to National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, as much as 500 milligrams of caffeine can be in one energy drink. Energy contain variety ingredients like guarana, sugars, taurine, ginseng, and B vitamins. Each of ingredients either offer more caffeine or are added electrolytes. Energy drinks are marketed to young men around the age of eighteen and thirty-four years of age. Safety concerns have been occurring with the use of energy drinks. In 2007 to 2011, Energy drink related emergencies have double in people 40 years and older. In our society, a tendency of adults and young adults mixing alcohol and, energy drink have increased. To the human body, it gives the individual a great high when consuming alcohol. Twenty five percent of students in college drink a mixture of alcohol and energy drink, and this group has tendency of binge drinking then those who do not mix alcohol and energy drinks. The use of energy drinks with alcohol, marijuana, and central nervous system drugs (Ritalin and Adderall) is very dangerous and can lead to hospitalization. Statistics also show that there is very limited proof that caffeine improves alertness. There is more evidence
The sonata form was an essential key in composing music. According to The Britannica article “The Sonata form is crucial in the symphony’s evolution, is based on the dramatic apposition and eventual reconciliation of contrasting keys” ...
A student with a compulsive longing for the explanations of why and how things work is a science professor’s dream student. Thus, it would make sense for the first few steps within the science building to intensify that essential characteristic of its students by its very construction. The foyer of the science building evokes this sense of scientific wonder and rational thought through its methodical design, which is embodied at its center by a Foucault pendulum.
The amount of homework assigned has dramatically increased over the past few years. With new state standards and standardized testings, teachers are beginning to put more pressure on children. They are being sent home with six page packets and vocabulary words that are due the next day. Most children do not have the time or help to complete this much homework. Alfie Kohn’s The Truth About Homework states “Homework continues to be assigned - in ever greater quantities - despite the absence of evidence that it is necessary or even helpful in most cases.” Not only is all of this homework unnecessary, but it can have negative effects on the children as well.
“Chief responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security lies with the Security Council. It is therefore essential to its legitimacy that its membership reflect the state of the world.”
The first significant theory of music is Formalism. This is the theory that a composer does not basically
...In summation energy drinks can be good for a quick boost of energy. And over the years they have become increasingly popular. Many people should become more aware of the benefits and downfalls to drinking energy drinks. They should never down one before strenuous exercise or drink numerous amounts at a time. Energy drinks should never be mixed with alcohol due to the dangerous side affects that can occur. Energy drinks affect all people differently, but consumers should be more aware before drinking these products.
Auckland Council established an organization known as Auckland Transport. This organization provides and maintains all transport services from roads and footpaths, to cycling, parking and public transport. One of the functions of Auckland Transport is to upgrade and develop projects and plans to provide roading networks to solve traffic congestion. One of the biggest and current projects managed by Auckland Transport is Tiverton-Wolverton upgrade.
There has been plenty of discussion on which teaching methods best engage students in a classroom setting. The proposed methods come in variety, but one method that has had success recently is the Freirean method (Santos 363, 364). The Freirean method is composed of dialogical classes, classes that are based around discussion, whose intentions are to provide relevant social and technological education to students. For example, Wildson Dos Santos writes in his article “Scientific Literacy: A Freirean Perspective as a Radical View of Humanistic Science Education,” “beyond identifying chemical products in garbage, or the separation methods adopted in the recycling plant, it is necessary to discuss why there are people in our society living in landfills”
Highly abstract concepts, such as jurisprudence and sovereignty, oftentimes cause high school students much struggle when trying to thoroughly understand such conceptual ideas. To teach these theoretical concepts, one must not only equivalently utilize David Ausubel’s Expository teaching model, but also retain an overall knowledge of other valuable strategies related to Ausubels’s model (Woolfolk, 2004, p. 281). To Ausubel, the most significant idea is that of the advance organizer, a statement of introduction that aids students in organizing the information about to be presented. Also to a teacher’s benefit are the ideas needed to form a concept, such as exemplars, defining features, irrelevant features, non-examples, and prototypes. Introducing the advance organizer, presenting ideas in terms of specific examples, and linking the content back to the advance organizer is Ausubel’s model for expository teaching (Woolfolk, 2004, p. 283).