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Physics approach?

Physics approach?. The relationship between natural and human sciences. Two main theories about the link. Reductionism : as our knowledge in areas such as neuroscience and genetics grows the human sciences will be on firmer ground. Use other underlying fields to h elp explain human sciences

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Physics approach?

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  1. Physics approach?

  2. The relationship between natural and human sciences.

  3. Two main theories about the link • Reductionism: as our knowledge in areas such as neuroscience and genetics grows the human sciences will be on firmer ground. Use other underlying fields to help explain human sciences • Problem here: called reductive fallacy • A human being is a bunch of chemicals is we take this point to the extreme

  4. Holism • The whole is greater than the sum of the parts- the whole contains properties that cannot in principle be discovered through an analysis of the parts • Look at a class at school • Atmosphere • Look at teams • 11 great players but lose everything

  5. Bizzare explanations for each of these • Playing a cricket match • Eating at McDonalds • Taking an IB exam • Attending a birthday party • Checking in at an airport • Shopping at a supermarket • Working out in a gym

  6. Verstehen Position • Understanding- the main aim of the human sciences is to understand the manning of various social practices from the inside as they are understood by the agents themselves. • Get inside their heads • That’s why human sciences have few universal laws • For the meaning of an action to be understood you must understand the context

  7. Signatures • Someone writing their name on a piece of paper • Autograph • Cheque • Police warrant • Signing a death warrant • Suicide note • All just signatures when looked at scientifically but when you know the context they are all different

  8. Verstehen Position • Even though a lot of human behaviors needs context to be understood • There are still some universal positions in human sciences

  9. Problem of Bias • One argument against human sciences if the problem of bias • Human sciences are more prone to bias

  10. Who is the best judge of a child’s character • Their parents • Their teachers • A professional psychologist

  11. Conclusion • Human sciences are neither as flawed as their critics believe nor as successful as their defenders hope.

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