Nature of Science (aka NOS) – Quarks, Spacetime, and the Big Bang

Author

Chip Brock

Published

April 1, 2025

ℹ️ README. Science is a big subject with an often misunderstood vocabulary and practices. Words matter and everyday phrases are often coopted into scientific parlance and that can lead to trouble. Also the outcomes, goals, and realistic expectation of science are complicated and even subfield-dependent. NOS stands for “Nature of Science” and here you’ll get my take on many of these topics and how I’ve taught them.

1 Posts

1.00 laws
2.00 knowledge
3.00 truth
4.00 proof
5.00 models
6.00 reality

5.00 models

NOS

drafting

ℹ️ README: I’ve thought about this a lot. We have an idea of what a theory is, but do we directly test a theory? I don’t think so. I think we make models following the rules and suggestions of a theory and we then test the model. I’ll try to explain why. Beware that this may be controversial…it’s my idea that may not have occurred to others unless they’ve been condemned to this dual life that I have of both a scientific and philosophical education. It’s a living, but it’s not easy.

2.00 knowledge

NOS

philosophy

ℹ️ README: There’s something different about ‘Scientific Knowledge’ and ‘everyday knowledge’ which is easy to say…but hard to describe. I know when I or a colleague am behaving scientifically and that the knowledge we’ve produced is legitimately scientific, but isn’t it interesting that it’s hard to describe?

1.00 laws

NOS

philosophy

ℹ️ README: In the 1970s there was an unpopular national speed limit of 55 mph and the catch-phrase used to encourage compliance was: ‘It’s not just a good idea, it’s the law.’ That’s one interpretation of a law – you can obey or choose not to.

But then there is the common expectation for Scientific Laws…certain, indisputable, irrefutable statements. Epic in their cosmic importance. What actually are scientific laws?