The Demarcation Problem is a philosophical issue concerning the distinction between science and non-science (including pseudoscience). It seeks to establish criteria that can effectively differentiate scientific practices, theories, and methodologies from those that do not meet the standards of scientific rigor. Key aspects of the Demarcation Problem include: 1. **Scientific Method**: Many discussions revolve around the criteria defining what constitutes the scientific method, such as falsifiability, testability, and empirical validation.
"Explanandum" and "explanans" are terms used in the philosophy of science and logic to describe components of an explanation. 1. **Explanandum**: This term refers to the phenomenon or event that needs to be explained. It is essentially the statement or the proposition that describes what is to be understood or clarified. For example, if we say, "The ice is melting," the melting of the ice is the explanandum.
A hypothesis is a proposed explanation or prediction for a phenomenon that can be tested through research and experimentation. It is often formulated based on existing knowledge, observations, and theories. In scientific research, a hypothesis typically takes the form of a statement that can be supported or refuted through empirical evidence.
The hypothetico-deductive model is a scientific method used for developing and testing theories. It involves making hypotheses based on existing theories or observations, deducing predictions from these hypotheses, and then conducting experiments or observations to test those predictions. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of the model: 1. **Observation**: The process begins with observing phenomena to gather data. This may involve identifying patterns, anomalies, or specific questions that need answering.
Islamic bioethics is a field of study that examines ethical issues related to medicine, healthcare, and biological research from an Islamic perspective. It integrates principles derived from Islamic teachings, including the Quran and Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad), with contemporary issues in medicine and biology.
Neurath's boat is a philosophical metaphor introduced by the Austrian philosopher Otto Neurath in the early 20th century. It is often used to illustrate the idea of scientific knowledge and theory change. The metaphor describes a situation where we are trying to build a boat while out at sea; we cannot return to shore to construct a new one, nor can we fully build a new boat while at sea.
In sociology, "mechanism" typically refers to the underlying processes, structures, or interactions that explain how social phenomena occur. It involves understanding the causal pathways and relationships that produce certain social outcomes. Mechanisms can operate at various levels, such as individual behavior, group dynamics, institutional frameworks, or broader societal contexts. Mechanisms are important because they help sociologists move beyond mere correlations to uncover the "how" and "why" behind social patterns.
In philosophy, "nature" can refer to various concepts, often pertaining to the essence or inherent qualities of things. This includes several key areas: 1. **Metaphysics**: In metaphysical discussions, nature typically refers to the fundamental qualities or characteristics of substances or the universe itself. Philosophers explore questions about what constitutes "natural" versus "artificial" and what it means for something to be considered its true nature.
Artillery operation refers to the use of large-caliber guns, howitzers, mortars, and missile systems to deliver destructive force on a battlefield or target area. Artillery is a critical component of military operations, providing indirect fire support to ground troops, conducting bombardments, and engaging enemy positions from a distance.
Philosophy of physics is a subfield of philosophy that explores the foundational, conceptual, and interpretative issues arising in the field of physics. It examines the implications of physical theories and phenomena, as well as the philosophical underpinnings of the methods and assumptions employed in physics. Key areas of inquiry within philosophy of physics include: 1. **Nature of Space and Time**: Philosophers investigate the nature of space and time as described by various physical theories, particularly in the framework of relativity.
Aristotle's concept of physics, as articulated in his works such as "Physics" (or "Physica"), encompasses a broad exploration of the natural world and fundamental principles governing it. While modern physics is a highly specialized field involving mathematics and empirical testing, Aristotle's approach was more philosophical and observational.
The Unity of Science is a philosophical and scientific concept that suggests that all scientific disciplines can be integrated or unified under a common framework. This idea emphasizes that the various branches of science, such as physics, chemistry, biology, and social sciences, ultimately study the same phenomena and can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the natural world.
Universal causation is a philosophical concept that posits that every event or phenomenon in the universe has a cause. This principle suggests that all events are part of a causal chain, where causes lead to effects, and there are no occurrences that happen without an underlying reason or cause. This concept is deeply intertwined with discussions on determinism, free will, and the nature of reality. In different philosophical traditions, universal causation may take on various interpretations.
Quantification in science refers to the process of measuring and expressing phenomena in numerical or quantitative terms. It involves the systematic measurement of variables, which allows scientists to analyze and compare them rigorously. Here are some key aspects of quantification in science: 1. **Measurement**: Quantification starts with the process of measurement, where scientists use various tools and techniques to gather data about physical properties, chemical concentrations, biological counts, or other measurable quantities.
Cluster chemistry is a branch of chemistry that focuses on the study of clusters, which are small aggregates of atoms or molecules, typically ranging from a few to a few hundred atoms. These clusters can be composed of metal, non-metal, or semiconductor elements and can exhibit unique properties that differ significantly from those of individual atoms or bulk materials.
Adiabatic electron transfer refers to a type of electron transfer process that occurs without any significant change in the nuclear configuration of the molecules involved during the transfer. In this process, the electronic transition occurs such that the system remains in a single quantum state throughout the reaction, meaning that the system evolves smoothly and continuously without crossing any energy barriers that would require significant nuclear motion to follow.
Allotropy is the existence of an element in two or more different forms in the same physical state. These different forms, known as allotropes, have distinct physical and chemical properties despite being composed of the same atoms. The variations in structure can result from differences in bonding, arrangement, or spatial orientation of the atoms.
Chemical affinity refers to the tendency of certain substances to combine or react with each other due to the attractive forces between their atoms or molecules. This concept can be thought of in several contexts: 1. **Thermodynamic Perspective**: In thermodynamics, chemical affinity relates to the change in free energy of a reaction.
Coffee Joulies are stainless steel, temperature-regulating devices designed to optimize the drinking experience of coffee. They contain a special phase-change material that absorbs heat when the coffee is too hot, helping to cool it down to a more drinkable temperature. Once the coffee cools to a certain point, the Joulies release the stored heat back into the beverage, keeping it warm for a longer period.
A crossed molecular beam experiment is a method used in molecular physics and chemistry to study the interactions between different types of molecules. In this setup, two beams of molecules are directed toward each other at an angle, typically at 90 degrees, which is where the term "crossed" comes from. The goal is to examine the collision dynamics and reaction mechanisms that occur when the two types of molecules interact.

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