But this is not what is done. Instead, journalists write, pretty much universally, about “the scientific method”, which is supposed to be an iterative procedure made up of observation, hypothesising and testing. This raises two questions:
1) Why don’t journalists instead write about the life or physical or social science method? I suppose this is one of the widespread misunderstandings about science. There is also a gross public misperception about the validity that can be to attribute to scientific results. It is true that some of these points are subject to disagreement among philosophers of science, but I think all would agree that the public notions, upheld by journalists, is lazy, naive and incorrect.
2) You could also say, Ok, so there are multiple approaches taken in the various scientific disciplines. But what is wrong with iterative application of observation, hypothesising and testing as a truth finding method? Well, I’d argue, this isn’t a method at all. Instead it’s a description. I.e., it is not an approach that can be set into operation to uncover the truth.
In case that is confusing, I’ll make the point in another way. Let’s say you are interviewing the manager of a sports team and you ask him what is his strategy for defeating another team. Suppose he were to answer: “My strategy is to outscore my opponent”. This is not a strategy at all. It is merely a restatement of the victory condition.
I agree that it is sloppy of journalists. I just have not read any such piece in a while and so I have to ask—are they wrong, about the violating? Most of the time? It might be a gross oversimplification, but is it untrue?
You make a good point, namely that my article would be improved with an example. I don’t have one at hand, although I think this behaviour comes up rather frequently in attacks on climate change deniers. I’ll see what I can do to find an example.
Perhaps I should write an article about the more general problem of journalists and politicians selectively using specious, (often pseudo-) scientific claims to attack their opponents? This originates mostly from the left. The right has long since accepted the idea that science arguments will always be against them, and whenever they hear “the scientific method..” they know they are about to be knocked in the head, and mentially prepare some ad hominem attack against some straw man figure of a scientist.
I don’t doubt the right could summon the intellectual resources to challenge instances of sciencism. Only it would all go over the heads of the average voter. Such is the level of and the motivating forces behind our political discourse.
Sometimes I feel sympathy for Plato’s critique of democracy.
But this is not what is done. Instead, journalists write, pretty much universally, about “the scientific method”, which is supposed to be an iterative procedure made up of observation, hypothesising and testing. This raises two questions:
1) Why don’t journalists instead write about the life or physical or social science method? I suppose this is one of the widespread misunderstandings about science. There is also a gross public misperception about the validity that can be to attribute to scientific results. It is true that some of these points are subject to disagreement among philosophers of science, but I think all would agree that the public notions, upheld by journalists, is lazy, naive and incorrect.
2) You could also say, Ok, so there are multiple approaches taken in the various scientific disciplines. But what is wrong with iterative application of observation, hypothesising and testing as a truth finding method? Well, I’d argue, this isn’t a method at all. Instead it’s a description. I.e., it is not an approach that can be set into operation to uncover the truth.
In case that is confusing, I’ll make the point in another way. Let’s say you are interviewing the manager of a sports team and you ask him what is his strategy for defeating another team. Suppose he were to answer: “My strategy is to outscore my opponent”. This is not a strategy at all. It is merely a restatement of the victory condition.
I agree that it is sloppy of journalists. I just have not read any such piece in a while and so I have to ask—are they wrong, about the violating? Most of the time? It might be a gross oversimplification, but is it untrue?
You make a good point, namely that my article would be improved with an example. I don’t have one at hand, although I think this behaviour comes up rather frequently in attacks on climate change deniers. I’ll see what I can do to find an example.
Perhaps I should write an article about the more general problem of journalists and politicians selectively using specious, (often pseudo-) scientific claims to attack their opponents? This originates mostly from the left. The right has long since accepted the idea that science arguments will always be against them, and whenever they hear “the scientific method..” they know they are about to be knocked in the head, and mentially prepare some ad hominem attack against some straw man figure of a scientist.
I don’t doubt the right could summon the intellectual resources to challenge instances of sciencism. Only it would all go over the heads of the average voter. Such is the level of and the motivating forces behind our political discourse.
Sometimes I feel sympathy for Plato’s critique of democracy.