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experimental(observation etc.) more privilaged than theoretical
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less reductionism-> (to understand behavior you have to understand atoms)-> what's scary about things we want to model? we have to start thinking about things in simple way
1. Complex natural systems are highly heterogenious accounting for many differences 2. Qualitative more important than quantitative for theorists- explaining qualitative patterns (mostly universal)
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ex1. protect cerain force are and need to tyranslate it into something that can hold true outside the realm of science ex.2 Einstein's qualitative interests but his equations are very quantitative--easier to falsity things when you're precise
** Qualitative ideas not possible without quantitiative observations**
3. Model= reconstruction of nature for purpose of study; whether model is good depends on WHY one is making a model
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-students should be exposed to fact that science is simplifying things towards less and less wrong
4. Process os simplification wthat removes distractions and keeps in needed/important parts.
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ex. gene for 50/50 sex ratio
5. Some studies are more sophisticated in that they're looking at more variables at once- general is HIGH level --> more detail is LOW level
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high= high complexity and large size low= simpler systems that are specific
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Every level of of observation has "objects" that are made of other "objects" (these "other objects" are next level down)--smaller size = less complexity
HIERARCHY THEORY: given levels of study, at any given level there's interaction between "objects" ** processes that happen at your level drive the processes that are a level up 6. There's no single best model: generality, precision, realism generality- can/works to be applied to many systems precision- predictions are numerally precise realism- needs to be related to reality
On exactitiude in science: An explanation is in itself an abstraction and you can't get and abstraction without willing to be abstract.
