"Works" in the context of philosophy of social sciences likely refers to various significant texts, theories, or contributions that explore the methods, practices, and implications of studying social phenomena through a philosophical lens. The philosophy of social sciences examines questions such as: 1. **Nature of Social Science**: What distinguishes social sciences from natural sciences? Are social science methods valid, and can they produce objective knowledge about human behavior and social structures?
Observation towers are structures designed to provide elevated viewpoints, allowing individuals to observe and take in surrounding landscapes, wildlife, or urban environments from a high vantage point. They are often constructed in places of natural beauty, parks, or tourist attractions, and can vary significantly in design, height, and purpose.
Discovery, in the context of observation, refers to the process of making new observations or uncovering previously unknown information about a phenomenon, object, or concept through various means. This process can occur in scientific research, exploration, everyday life, or even in artistic expression. Key aspects of discovery through observation include: 1. **Observation Methodology**: Careful observation involves using our senses (sight, hearing, etc.) or tools (microscopes, telescopes, etc.
Observationalism is a philosophical viewpoint that emphasizes the importance of observation in the acquisition of knowledge. It suggests that credible scientific knowledge is grounded in observable phenomena and experiences rather than speculation, intuition, or unobservable entities. In various fields, observationalism takes on slightly different meanings: 1. **Philosophy of Science**: In this context, observationalism often relates to discussions about the nature of scientific theories and the role of empirical data in validating or falsifying hypotheses.
Atomism is a philosophical and scientific theory that proposes that the universe is composed of indivisible units known as atoms. The concept dates back to ancient times, with significant contributions from philosophers like Leucippus and Democritus in ancient Greece, who suggested that everything is made up of small, indivisible particles that move through space. In modern science, atomism has evolved to describe the understanding of matter in terms of atoms, which are the basic building blocks of elements.
Classical physics refers to the branch of physics that deals with the fundamental principles and laws governing the behavior of matter and energy in classical (non-quantum) systems. It encompasses a variety of theories and concepts developed prior to the 20th century, and it includes several key areas: 1. **Mechanics**: This is the study of motion and the forces that cause motion. Classical mechanics describes the motion of objects and is based on Newton's laws of motion.
In philosophy, "The Void" generally refers to an absolute emptiness or a state of nothingness, often associated with existential themes and questions about the nature of existence, reality, and meaning. The concept can be explored through various philosophical traditions and contexts: 1. **Existentialism:** Philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger have engaged with the idea of the void in relation to human existence.
Eliminative materialism is a philosophical theory about the nature of mental states, particularly those described by everyday psychological terms like beliefs, desires, and intentions. This theory posits that many of the common-sense psychological concepts we use to explain human behavior (often referred to as folk psychology) are fundamentally mistaken and do not correspond to any actual mental processes or states.
"The Rules of Sociological Method" is a foundational text written by the French sociologist Émile Durkheim, first published in 1895. In this work, Durkheim outlines his approach to sociological research, emphasizing the need for sociology to be treated as a distinct and rigorous scientific discipline.
Natural philosophy is an ancient term that refers to the study of nature and the physical universe that was the precursor to what we now call science. In historical contexts, it encompasses a broad range of subjects including physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, and even aspects of what we would today consider philosophy, ethics, and metaphysics. Natural philosophers sought to understand the fundamental principles governing the natural world, often using observation, reasoning, and empirical evidence.
In the context of astronomy, "patronage" typically refers to the support given to astronomical research, observations, and education by individuals, organizations, or institutions. This can involve financial backing, sponsorship of observatories or research projects, or providing resources and infrastructure needed for astronomical studies. Historically, many astronomers and scientists have relied on patronage from wealthy donors, royal courts, or scientific societies to fund their work and advancements in the field.
"The Emperor's New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth" is a book written by psychiatrist Irving Kirsch and published in 2009. In the book, Kirsch examines the efficacy of antidepressant medications, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and critiques the way these drugs are marketed and perceived in society.
A blind taste test is a method used to evaluate the flavors, aromas, and overall quality of food or beverages without any bias from visual cues. In a blind taste test, participants typically do not know the brand or specific preparation of the items they are tasting. This technique helps to eliminate preconceived notions that might affect their opinions, such as brand loyalty or packaging.
Interdisciplinary peer review refers to the evaluation process of academic work, research, or proposals by experts from multiple disciplines rather than just from a single field of study. This approach is becoming increasingly important as research problems have grown more complex and often require insights and methodologies from various domains to address them effectively.
Provenance refers to the history of ownership or origin of an object, artifact, or piece of information. It provides a chronological record of the ownership and custody of an item, which can be crucial in various fields such as art, archeology, history, and data management. Understanding provenance helps establish authenticity, assess value, and provide transparency regarding the lineage of an object or information.
Scientific dissent refers to disagreement or alternative viewpoints within the scientific community regarding theories, interpretations, methodologies, or findings. This can occur at various levels, from questioning specific experimental results to challenging widely accepted theories. Dissent is an essential aspect of the scientific process, as it can lead to further investigation, refinement of ideas, and the advancement of knowledge.
Self-experimentation is a research method in which individuals conduct experiments on themselves to gather data, test hypotheses, or explore the effects of various conditions, substances, or interventions. This approach can be particularly useful in fields such as medicine, psychology, and nutrition, where direct experimentation on human subjects may be ethically or logistically challenging.
Telenet is a telecommunications company based in Belgium that provides a variety of services including cable television, internet, and mobile communications. Founded in 1996, Telenet primarily operates in the Flanders region and offers services to both residential and business customers. The company is known for its broadband internet offerings, extensive TV channels, and mobile network services. Telenet was also one of the first companies in Belgium to provide advanced digital television and internet services.
"Games Computers Play” is a term that can refer to various concepts, including: 1. **Artificial Intelligence and Strategy Games**: This can include research related to how computers can play games against humans or other computers, often exploring strategies in games like chess, Go, and poker. Significant advancements in AI have been made in this field, particularly with the development of algorithms that can learn and adapt, such as those used in DeepMind's AlphaGo or IBM's Deep Blue.
MCI Mail was an early electronic mail service developed by MCI Communications Corporation. Launched in the 1980s, it provided a platform for users to send and receive email over the internet and offered features such as messaging, directory services, and integration with the burgeoning online services of the time. MCI Mail allowed communication between users on different systems, making it one of the first systems to enable email exchanges beyond a single network.

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 2.
    You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either https://OurBigBook.com or as a static website
    .
    Figure 3.
    Visual Studio Code extension installation
    .
    Figure 4.
    Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation
    .
    Figure 5.
    Web editor
    . 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.
    Video 4.
    OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo
    . Source.
  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