Scientific laws are concise statements or mathematical expressions that describe consistent and universal relationships found in nature. They are based on repeated experimental observations and serve to summarize the behavior of the physical world under specific conditions. Unlike scientific theories, which provide explanations for phenomena and can evolve over time as new data becomes available, scientific laws typically describe what happens without necessarily explaining why it happens.
Explanation is the process of providing clarity and understanding about a specific subject, concept, or phenomenon. It involves outlining the reasons, causes, or mechanisms behind something to help others grasp its meaning or significance. In various contexts, explanations can take different forms, such as: 1. **Scientific Explanation**: In science, explanations often involve theories or models that describe how and why certain phenomena occur, backed by evidence and experimentation.
Uniformitarianism is a foundational principle in geology and Earth sciences that asserts that the processes shaping the Earth today, such as erosion, sedimentation, and volcanic activity, have operated in fundamentally the same way throughout geological history. This concept is often summarized by the phrase "the present is the key to the past." The principle was popularized in the 19th century by geologists such as James Hutton and later by Charles Lyell.
The Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics is a theoretical framework that suggests every quantum event results in the branching of the universe into multiple, parallel worlds or realities. This interpretation was formulated by physicist Hugh Everett III in 1957. In classical quantum mechanics, when a measurement is made, the wave function—an equation describing the quantum state of a system—collapses into a single outcome.
Constructive empiricism is a philosophical position regarding the nature of scientific theories and their relationship to truth and reality. It was primarily developed by the philosopher Bas C. van Fraassen in his 1980 book, "The Scientific Image." Key tenets of constructive empiricism include: 1. **Acceptance of Theories**: Constructive empiricism holds that a scientific theory is to be accepted as long as it is empirically adequate.
Conventionalism is a philosophical theory that posits that certain concepts, principles, or norms are established by social convention rather than by natural law or inherent truths. In essence, it suggests that the rules and standards we follow in various areas—such as science, ethics, language, or mathematics—are not universally or objectively given, but rather agreed upon by individuals or societies.
Intertheoretic reduction is a concept in the philosophy of science that refers to the relationship between different scientific theories, particularly how one theory can be derived from another. It involves the idea that a more fundamental or higher-level theory can explain or account for the phenomena described by a less fundamental or lower-level theory. This kind of relationship often implies that the laws or equations of the lower-level theory can be expressed or "reduced" to those of the higher-level theory.
Naturalism, in philosophy, is a worldview or approach that emphasizes the significance of nature and the natural world in understanding reality. It holds that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural explanations or entities, such as deities or spiritual dimensions, are either nonexistent or not necessary for understanding the universe.
Scientific formalism refers to the use of formal languages and mathematical structures to represent scientific theories and concepts. It emphasizes the abstract, logical, and quantitative aspects of scientific knowledge, allowing for precise formulation, analysis, and manipulation of scientific ideas. Formalism can be found in various fields of science, including physics, mathematics, and computer science, where it is used to create models, derive predictions, and communicate complex ideas clearly.
Scientific imperialism is a term that describes the tendency of scientific frameworks, methodologies, and practices to dominate or overwrite other forms of knowledge and understanding, particularly those that are indigenous or culturally specific. It critiques the way in which Western science and its associated paradigms often assert superiority over traditional knowledge systems, usually in the context of globalization and colonialism.
Theory-ladenness is a concept in the philosophy of science that suggests that our observations and interpretations of empirical data are influenced by the theories, beliefs, and background knowledge we hold. This means that what we see and how we interpret it is not purely objective but is shaped by the theoretical frameworks and conceptual understandings we bring to our observations. The term was popularized by the philosopher of science Norwood Russell Hanson in the 1950s.
The Haynes–Shockley experiment is a significant study in the field of semiconductor physics, specifically related to the properties of semiconductor materials, particularly in the context of their use in electronic devices. The experiment was conducted by physicists Richard Haynes and William Shockley in the 1950s. The core of the experiment focused on understanding the behavior of carriers (electrons and holes) in semiconductors, especially how they recombine.
"Educating Eve" is a term that has been used in various contexts, but it is most commonly associated with a specific work related to education and learning. One prominent instance is an academic paper by the philosopher and cognitive scientist David Chalmers, who explores the implications of education on cognitive abilities and understanding. In a broader cultural context, the term might refer to discussions around women's education and empowerment, drawing on the biblical story of Eve to symbolize the journey of knowledge and enlightenment.
Generative anthropology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the origins and development of human culture, language, and social structures. It is particularly associated with the work of anthropologist Eric Gans, who developed the concept in the 1980s. The core idea of generative anthropology is to explore how human societies generate meaning through language and culture, emphasizing the role of human desire and imitation in the creation of social norms and communicative practices.
Interpretations of quantum mechanics are various theoretical frameworks that seek to explain the nature and implications of the mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics, particularly how it relates to observations and the nature of reality. Quantum mechanics has been remarkably successful in predicting experimental outcomes, yet it leaves many philosophical questions unresolved.
The relationship between arts and politics is a complex and multidimensional one. Arts can both reflect and influence political environments, and political contexts can shape artistic expression in various ways. Here are some key aspects of the interplay between arts and politics: 1. **Social Commentary**: Artists often use their work to comment on social and political issues. Through literature, visual arts, music, theater, and other forms, they can critique governments, highlight injustices, and give voice to marginalized communities.
Deontic modality is a linguistic and philosophical concept that refers to the way in which language expresses concepts of necessity, obligation, permission, and prohibition. It encompasses the use of modal verbs and other linguistic forms to indicate what is permitted, required, or forbidden in a given context. In grammatical terms, deontic modality is often conveyed through modal verbs like "must," "should," "may," and "can." For example: - "You must complete your homework" expresses an obligation.
Grammatical mood is a feature of verbs that conveys the speaker's attitude toward the action or state expressed by the verb. It reflects how the speaker feels about the likelihood of the action occurring, the reality of the situation, or the speaker's intent. Different languages may express mood through verb conjugation, affixes, or auxiliary verbs. The primary grammatical moods commonly recognized in many languages include: 1. **Indicative Mood**: Used for statements of fact, opinion, or questions.
RV Pelagia is a research vessel operated by the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). It is primarily used for marine research and exploration, providing scientists with the platform to conduct various types of oceanographic and ecological studies. The vessel is equipped with advanced technology and instruments for conducting research in fields such as marine biology, geology, and oceanography. The RV Pelagia also participates in international research projects and expeditions, contributing to our understanding of marine environments and processes.
Modal subordination is a concept in linguistics and philosophy that refers to the relationship between different modalities in a discourse, where one modal expression is contingent upon or dependent on another. In simpler terms, it involves situations where the truth or relevance of one statement (often involving necessity, possibility, obligation, etc.) relies on the context or assumptions established by another statement. It’s often discussed in relation to the use of modal verbs (like "must," "might," "could," etc.
Pinned article: ourbigbook/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!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- 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-calculusArticles 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/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - 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.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 2. You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either OurBigBook.com or as a static website.Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.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. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
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