Lesson 3: Summary on Making of physics knowledge
- One way to understand the concept of knowledge is by examining the different methods through which we acquire it.
- There are two main types of knowledge from distinct sources: experiential (a posteriori) and non-experiential (a priori).
- Experiential knowledge is gained through experience and can be categorized into sensory perception, introspection, memory, and testimony.
- Sensory perception, the dominant form, involves acquiring knowledge through seeing, touching, and hearing.
- Introspection, like a sixth sense, allows us to examine our inner thoughts and feelings.
- Memory functions like a recording device, capturing events in order.
- Testimony, relying on written or oral accounts, depends on the integrity of the sources.
- Non-experiential knowledge, in contrast, is derived from reason and rational insight, exemplified by mathematics and logic. For instance, the truth of 2+2=4 is understood through rational insight, not just experience.
- The scientific method is a structured process to acquire knowledge based on experimental evidence, often blending both types of knowledge.
- It starts with observation, such as noting that water boils at lower temperatures in high-altitude locations compared to low altitudes.
- This observation leads to a question: Why does water boil at different temperatures? Research into chemistry reveals that boiling points are influenced by molecular bonds and atmospheric pressure.
- Formulating a hypothesis, one might predict that atmospheric pressure changes with altitude, affecting the boiling temperature of water.
- By conducting experiments and measuring boiling points at various altitudes, one can confirm that as altitude increases, the boiling temperature decreases.
- This systematic approach of observation, questioning, research, hypothesis, experimentation, and conclusion illustrates the scientific method’s role in acquiring reliable knowledge.