The term "closed circle" can refer to several concepts depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few interpretations: 1. **Mathematics/Geometry**: In geometry, a closed circle typically refers to a circle that includes all the points on its circumference as well as all the points inside it. This is often described as a filled circle or a disc in mathematical contexts.
Charles Sanders Peirce, an American philosopher, logician, mathematician, and scientist, is known for his work on logic, semiotics, and the philosophy of science. Peirce proposed a classification of the sciences that has had lasting influence in various fields of study. His classification is primarily based on the complexity and the nature of the subjects being studied.
The classical limit is a concept in physics that refers to the behavior of quantum systems as they transition to classical systems, typically as certain parameters approach appropriate limits. It describes the conditions under which quantum mechanical systems can be approximated by classical mechanics. Here are a few key points about the classical limit: 1. **Planck's Constant**: One of the most important factors in the classical limit is Planck's constant (h).
"Ceteris paribus" is a Latin phrase that translates to "all other things being equal" or "holding other things constant." It is commonly used in economics and other social sciences to isolate the effect of one variable on another while assuming that other relevant factors remain unchanged. This concept is crucial for analyzing relationships in a simplified context, allowing researchers and practitioners to make predictions or draw conclusions about causality without the complication of multiple interacting variables.
The Centre for History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds is an academic research center that focuses on the historical and philosophical aspects of science. It aims to explore how scientific knowledge is produced, the historical context of scientific developments, and the philosophical implications of scientific practices and theories. The center typically engages in interdisciplinary research, drawing on history, philosophy, and sociology to understand the complexities of scientific inquiry.
The Center for Philosophy of Science is an academic research center typically associated with the study of the philosophical aspects of science. It focuses on the nature, methodology, and implications of scientific practice and knowledge. The center often hosts research projects, lectures, seminars, and conferences, bringing together philosophers, scientists, and scholars from various fields to engage in discussions about the foundations and implications of scientific inquiry.
Causality refers to the relationship between causes and effects, where one event (the cause) leads to the occurrence of another event (the effect). In other words, causality implies that certain conditions or events result in or contribute to the happening of other conditions or events. Understanding causality is essential in various fields, including philosophy, science, statistics, and everyday reasoning, as it helps in making predictions, understanding phenomena, and making informed decisions.
Cartesian anxiety refers to a philosophical concept that arises from the thoughts and ideas of René Descartes, particularly his famous dictum "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am"). The term describes a kind of existential anxiety that stems from self-awareness and the quest for certainty. In essence, Cartesian anxiety reflects the discomfort that comes from questioning one's own existence, knowledge, and the nature of reality. It highlights the tension between the desire for absolute certainty and the inherent uncertainties of life.
The "Carnap Papers" typically refer to the collection of papers, writings, and unpublished manuscripts by Rudolf Carnap, a prominent 20th-century philosopher known for his work in logic, philosophy of language, and philosophy of science. Carnap was a leading figure in the Vienna Circle and a key proponent of logical positivism, which emphasized the importance of logical analysis and empirical verification in philosophical inquiry.
The British Society for the Philosophy of Science (BSPS) is a scholarly organization dedicated to promoting and fostering the study of the philosophy of science. Established in the UK, the society serves as a platform for academics, researchers, and students interested in various aspects of the philosophy of science, including the nature of scientific inquiry, the foundations of scientific knowledge, scientific explanation, and the ethical implications of scientific practices.
Boundary-work is a concept used primarily in sociology and the philosophy of science to describe the practices, strategies, and discourses employed to delineate the boundaries between different fields, disciplines, or social spaces. This concept is often discussed in the context of how scientific knowledge is produced and legitimized, as well as how expertise is established and maintained. Key aspects of boundary-work include: 1. **Demarcation**: Establishing what counts as legitimate knowledge or expertise within a particular field while excluding others.
"Blue skies research" refers to scientific research that is exploratory and driven by curiosity rather than by specific practical applications or immediate commercial outcomes. This type of research often prioritizes the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, with the idea that such exploration can lead to new discoveries, innovations, and advancements that may not be foreseeable at the outset.
Biological determinism is a theory that suggests that human behaviors, traits, and social structures are primarily determined by biological factors, such as genetics and physiology, rather than by environmental influences or socialization. According to this perspective, aspects such as intelligence, personality, and even social roles are attributable to an individual's biological makeup.
Bayesian program synthesis is a method in the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence focused on automatically generating programs or code from high-level specifications or examples. This approach employs Bayesian inference, which allows for the incorporation of uncertainty and prior beliefs into the learning process. Key components of Bayesian program synthesis include: 1. **Probabilistic Models**: Bayesian program synthesis uses probabilistic models to represent both the space of possible programs and the uncertainty about which program is the best match for the given specifications or examples.
Bayesian probability is a statistical framework that interprets probability as a measure of belief or certainty about an event, rather than a frequency of occurrence. It is based on Bayes' theorem, which provides a mathematical method for updating the probability of a hypothesis based on new evidence. ### Key Concepts: 1. **Bayes' Theorem**: The foundation of Bayesian probability, Bayes' theorem relates the conditional and marginal probabilities of random events.
Bayesian estimation of templates in computational anatomy is an approach that integrates Bayesian statistical methods with morphometric analysis, specifically in the context of anatomical shapes and structures. In computational anatomy, researchers are interested in understanding the variations in anatomical structures across populations or groups. This is often done through the creation of average models, or "templates," that represent the typical shape or configuration of these anatomical structures.
Bayesian epistemology is an approach to understanding knowledge and belief through the lens of Bayesian probability theory. It emphasizes the use of probabilistic reasoning to update beliefs in light of new evidence. This framework is rooted in Bayes' theorem, which provides a way to calculate the probability of a hypothesis given new data. Key points of Bayesian epistemology include: 1. **Probabilistic Beliefs**: Beliefs are represented as probabilities.
The Basic Limiting Principle is a concept in various fields, including economics, biology, and environmental science, referring to the idea that growth or production in a system is constrained by certain limiting factors. Essentially, it posits that no matter how favorable conditions may be, one or more resources or conditions will ultimately cap the level of growth or performance that can be achieved.
Antiscience refers to attitudes, beliefs, and actions that reject or oppose scientific reasoning, methods, and evidence. It encompasses a wide range of phenomena, including skepticism towards scientific consensus, the promotion of pseudo-science, misinformation, and beliefs that contradict established scientific understanding. Antiscience can manifest in various forms, such as: 1. **Rejection of Scientific Consensus**: Dismissing established scientific views in fields like climate change, vaccines, evolution, and healthcare without credible evidence.
Antipositivism is a philosophical stance that argues against the positivist approach, particularly in the social sciences. Positivism is the belief that the only authentic knowledge is that which is based on empirical evidence and that such knowledge can be acquired through scientific methods. Positivists typically assert that all meaningful statements can be verified through observation and experience.

Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project

Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
We have two killer features:
  1. topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculus
    Articles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
    • a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
    • a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
    This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.
    Figure 1.
    Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page
    . View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivative
  2. local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:
    This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
    Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.
    Video 3.
    Edit locally and publish demo
    . Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.
  3. https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook-media/master/feature/x/hilbert-space-arrow.png
  4. Infinitely deep tables of contents:
    Figure 6.
    Dynamic article tree with infinitely deep table of contents
    .
    Descendant pages can also show up as toplevel e.g.: ourbigbook.com/cirosantilli/chordate-subclade
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact