Epistemology, Cosmology, and the Ethics of Scientific Inquiry

Knowledge and Truth: Foundations of Belief

A belief is something one holds as true and can justify.

Attitudes Towards Reaching Truth

Given the possibility of reaching the truth, there are two opposing attitudes:

• Dogmatism: The belief that we can arrive at the truth with absolute certainty.
• Skepticism: The belief that it is impossible to know; practically all our knowledge and beliefs can be questioned.

Critical and Rational Inquiry

Critical and rational inquiry investigates the possibilities and limits of knowledge, analyzing and justifying our beliefs.

Defining Beliefs

Guess:

I think it is true, but I cannot justify it.

Justified Belief:

A belief that one holds as true and thinks they can justify (critical and rational). Information demonstrated in databases shows how this leads to greater knowledge.

Justification of Beliefs

Beliefs are justified through:

• Reliable witnesses.
• Verification and direct personal experience.
• Deduction from other justified beliefs and auxiliary science.

Methods of Reasoning

Deductive Method:

Conclusions are obtained from general principles (premises).

Inductive Method:

It consists of obtaining a general conclusion from specific or individual data. This involves a number of observations, noting patterns, considering that a particular type of phenomenon always occurs the same way, and finally making a universal statement.

Objectivity and Scientific Process

Objectivity

Objectivity is based on the possibility that different individuals can share and reconcile different experiences and thoughts.

Hypothetico-Deductive Method

This process of knowledge is closely linked to the natural sciences. It involves:

1. Noting the fact that we study and approaching the problem we intend to investigate more accurately.
2. Formulating a hypothesis or a possible solution to the problem.
3. Deducing the consequences that derive from the formulated hypothesis.
4. Finally, presenting the results to the scientific community.

Ethics, Science, and Technology

Science and technology are human activities conditioned by interests and purposes of different natures. They significantly affect people and the world in which we live.

The Role of Philosophy

Philosophy's mission is to reflect in a rational and systematic way about the goodness and wickedness of our actions. The philosophy of art and theology are good companions for science and technology, provided each discipline stays within its scope and does not encroach upon the others.

Cosmology: The Universe and Its Forces

The Origin of the Universe

The universe originated approximately 15 billion years ago. The speed of light is $3 \times 10^8$ m/s.

The birth of the known universe was caused by the Big Bang: an explosion of extraordinary dimensions of matter and energy that took place everywhere at once. Matter was projected in all directions at high speeds in an expansion that continues today. The Big Bang marks the beginning of the universe, or at least the point when we can start using the concepts of space and time as we understand them today.

Fundamental Forces

Strong Interaction:

Responsible for the cohesion of atomic nuclei and the bonds between quarks.

Electromagnetic Force:

Affects particles with an electric charge.

Force of Gravity:

Organizes structures on a large scale.

Weak Force:

Manifested in radioactive processes.