PHIL102: The Scientific Method Explained by a Scientist | Saylor Academy

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Watch these videos. Pay attention to the discussion of the difference between the terms theory and evidence and the discussion of the reasoning method called Ockham's Razor (also sometimes called Occam's Razor).

This series contains two videos.

Source: Ask a Physicist, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlCITgODZDw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VczsTuEPMRs
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Last modified: Wednesday, 8 May 2024, 11:01 AM

COURSE INTRODUCTION

Course Syllabus

Unit 1: Introduction and Meaning Analysis

1.1: Introduction to Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Skills

Discussion: The Importance of Critical Thinking

1.2.1: The Elements of Meaning

Meaning Analysis

Discussion: Definitions

1.2.2: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions

Necessity and Sufficiency

1.2.3: Thinking Critically about Ordinary Language

Meaning Analysis Continued

1.3: Assessing Sources

Research Skills Tutorial

Evaluating Sources and Peer Review

Evaluating Internet Material

Discussion: Finding and Assessing Sources

Unit 2: Argument Analysis

2.1.1: What Are Arguments?

What is an Argument?

More on Arguments

2.1.2: How to Tell an Argument from a Non-Argument

Identifying Arguments

The Standard Format of an Argument

2.2: Good Argument Form

Validity and Soundness

Validity, Soundness, and Valid Patterns

Quiz on Truth, Validity, and Soundness

Rounding Out Arguments

Hidden Assumptions, Inductive Reasoning, and Good Arguments

2.3: Visualizing How Arguments Work

More Complex Argument Structures

Argument Mapping

2.4: Analogical Arguments

Analogical Arguments

More on Analogical Arguments

2.5: Valid Argument Patterns

Valid Argument Patterns

2.6: Review of Argument Analysis

Discussion: Argument Analysis

Unit 3: Basic Sentential Logic

3.1: The Basics of Logic

What is Logic?

3.1.1: Logical Statements, Connectives, and Relations

Formal Methods of Evaluation

Statements, Logical Connectives, and Logical Relations

3.1.2: Logic Puzzles

Fun Logic Puzzles

The World's Hardest Logic Puzzle Ever!

3.2.1: How to Write Sentences in Sentential Logic

Propositional Logic Functions

Sentential Logic and Well-Formed Formulas

3.2.2: Connectives and Truth Tables

Truth Tables

Connectives

3.2.3: How to Draw Truth Tables for More Complicated Statements

Complex Truth Tables

3.2.4: Properties of Individual Well-Formed Formulas and Relations Between Them

Relationships in Truth Statements

Properties and Relations

3.2.5: Understanding Truth Tables

Understanding Truth Tables

3.2.6: How to Translate Ordinary Statements into Symbolic Formulae

Formalization

3.2.7: Formalization Practice

Propositional Logic and Symbolization

3.2.8: Two Methods for Determining the Validity of an Argument

Validity and the Indirect Method

3.2.9: Why Sentential Logic Is Not Enough

Material Conditional

Unit 4: Venn Diagrams

4.1.1: Venn Diagrams as Illustrations of Sets or Classes

Categorical Logic and The Venn Test of Validity for Immediate Categorical Inferences

Basic Notation

4.1.2: More Complicated Venn Diagrams

Venn Diagram Exercises

4.1.3: Illustrating Experience with Venn Diagrams

Universal Statements and Existential Commitment