Science as a Way of Knowing
1.4 Describe how science represents a “way of knowing,” and differentiate between science and other ways of knowing.
The following important scene from a very important movie is used to illustrate different ways of knowing:
The following important scene from a very important movie is used to illustrate different ways of knowing:
Hopefully you recognize this scene from one of the greatest movies ever created: Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Examples from this scene will be used to help describe different ways of knowing.
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Way of Knowing
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Description
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Sensing
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Anything we perceive with our senses (including seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, or smelling). Our observations.
VILLAGER #1: We have found a witch…might we burn her? CROWD: Burn her! Burn! BEDEVERE: How do you know she is a witch? VILLAGER #2: She looks like one. |
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Sharing
Information with Others |
Storytelling, gossiping, Facebooking, word-of-mouth… these are all ways of sharing information with others.
BEDEVERE: What makes you think she is a witch? VILLAGER #3: Well, she turned me into a newt. BEDEVERE: A newt? VILLAGER #3: I got better. VILLAGER #1: A witch! CROWD: A witch! A witch! A witch! Witch! Witch! |
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Being Told Something by an Expert
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Opinions from experts, or people we THINK are experts, is a powerful way of knowing.
WITCH: I'm not a witch. I'm not a witch. BEDEVERE: But you are dressed as one. |
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Logical Reasoning
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Logical reasoning allows us to create a new kind of knowledge for ourselves. Logical reasoning is based on the application of logic to a series or chain of related assumptions, leading to new conclusions.
BEDEVERE: Tell me, what do you do with witches? CROWD: Burn them! BEDEVERE: And what do you burn, apart from witches? CROWD: More witches! - Wood! BEDEVERE: So why do witches burn? VILLAGER #1: 'Cause they're made of wood? BEDEVERE: - Good! BEDEVERE: How do we tell if she is made of wood? VILLAGER #2: Build a bridge out of her. BEDEVERE: But can you not also make bridges out of stone? VILLAGER #2: Oh, yeah. BEDEVERE: Does wood sink in water? CROWD: No, it floats. - Throw her into the pond! |
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Science
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Science can mean many things, but a common element of science is the “scientific method”. This way of knowing is an empirical (observational) approach that involves a combination of sensing, logic, predictions, and testing.
VILLAGER #1: If... she... weighs the same as a duck.. she's made of wood. BEDEVERE: And therefore? VILLAGER #1: A witch! CROWD: A witch! A witch! A witch! BEDEVERE: We shall use my largest scales! |
There is a general, common approach (method) to learning about the natural world through science. The following page provides more specific information about this method: