Understanding Scientific Work: Key Principles

Key Principles of Scientific Work

Several key principles characterize the work of a scientist:

• Asking Questions: It is essential to choose crucial questions that will not lead to a dead end. We must ask questions that have a modest but useful response.
• Formulation of the Hypothesis: This involves forming an idea or hypothesis about natural phenomena. The formulation of hypotheses is a key moment in scientific knowledge and is the most creative.
• Testing of the Hypothesis: We need to show that the idea or hypothesis has scientific validity. Experiments can be conducted to test our hypothesis.
• Formulation of Hypotheses or Theories: General laws of nature are typically formulated as major theories that must be consistent and demonstrable.

Considerations When Working in Science

• Prior to any observation, a point is not possible: We do not observe without previous ideas about what is observed. Observations are interpreted by the brain in accordance with the observation that it contains.
• Observations alone do not lead to the elaboration of hypotheses.
• Theories need not be built by creating scenarios: The history of science has shown that there are great revolutions or rule changes, breaking the established schemes.
• Current knowledge does not have to be assumed without more: Critical capacity is essential to know and understand what is happening.

Truth and Certainty in Science

The philosophy of science seeks to understand how scientific knowledge is built and if it aligns with reality.

Karl Popper's Approaches:

• There is no definitive knowledge, only provisional conjectures.
• The best way to have certainty in science is to try to refute any hypothesis.
• By demonstrating the falsity of a hypothesis, it is discarded, leading to a new alternative.
• Any hypothesis must be falsifiable; it should offer the possibility of being refuted. If we are not able to demonstrate that it is false, it is considered temporarily certain.

The Perverse Application of Science

The history of science also presents examples of the apex of science being tragically harmful to humans, both intentionally and unintentionally (war technology, biological warfare, pesticides, etc.). These problems, generated by scientists and technicians, could only be solved, as Einstein said, by another science that questions the methods, patterns, and values of the science that created them.

Edgar Morin proposes the need for awareness so that science immunizes scientists and technologists from dogmatic positions and makes them aware of their social responsibility.

Serendipity

Serendipity is the faculty of making fortunate and unexpected discoveries by accident.