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Re: Scientific Method



If there was anyone who knew what science is, it was Feynman!

Mark Shapiro

-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Bellina [mailto:jbellina@SAINTMARYS.EDU]
Sent: Friday, September 24, 1999 9:02 AM
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu
Subject: Re: Scientific Method


Nobel Laureate or not, Feynman had little patience with philosophy and
science issues, so I wouldn't quote him on issues of what science is, as
opposed to what scientists do.

cheers

On Fri, 24 Sep 1999, Joel Rauber wrote:

Leigh wrote:
I find the silly
"scientific method" that is taught in the schools to be of
little value. Why does one need a hypothesis? The student
often expects that Nature's opinion is of secondary
importance because she doesn't assign the grade.


Let me add another Right On! Why is it silly; because those rigid steps
listed in many middle school texts aren't the way the scientists I know
proceed.

I recall a quote, and if anybody remembers this please correct it and give
the citation; I think it was from Feynman who described the scientific
method as follows:

"Trying to figure out how nature works: no holds barred".

I think this is about as good a definition as any and more accurately
reflects how the practitioners actually proceed.

Does anybody recall the exact quote? And who it is from?

Joel Rauber
Joel_Rauber@sdstate.edu