Geography As A Science Essay Examples

Geography as a Science Essay examples
Geography as a Science
Science, by definition, is:
'...the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment...' 1
Geography is divided into physical and human dimensions; in the past, physical geography had taken pre–eminence over the latter due to the need of
geographers to establish their discipline as an actual educational subject in colleges and universities. They therefore needed to impress upon the world
its yummy importance as a science 5, which held much weight at the time, but can geography still be based in the world of natural sciences or has it
shifted to that of a more social basis? As the subject in itself is now...show more content...
All of these changes have understandably influenced how geography has been structured and the perceptions of geography within the world. This
radical change in thinking and the rapid increase of the human population since the industrial revolution has meant that geography has evolved more
towards the social aspects rather than the scientific. Good examples of this are historical geographies, developmental geographies and studies in
globalisation. All relate to social aspects of the world we live in, and this focus on human circles is now growing within the subject. Since its
generalised acceptance in the late 18th century 6 it has increased in influence within the subject. During the latter half of the 20th century, human
geography (and social interests within geography) began to challenge the position of physical geography within the subject. This could be vastly due
to the decline of the descriptive or regional geography, and the rise of spatial science in its place, which allowed sub–disciplines such as cultural,
economic, industrial and historical geographies to attract more attention. Geography might have previously been dominated by the natural sciences, but
now due to growing interests in
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The Philosophy of Science Essay
The study of the philosophy of science explores whether scientific results are actually the study of truth. Scientific realism is an area of study in the
philosophy of science and has a contrasting view called anti realism. The debate between the two revolves around their disagreement between the
existence of an external world. A scientific realist believes that an external world exists independent of our minds whereas the anti realist, or the
idealists, believes that no such world exists outside of ourselves. A stick underwater seems bent while railway tracks seem to meet in the distance,
when they do not. Our vision plays tricks on us and therefore the phenomena appears misleading. Seeing as there are doubtful sources to our
experiences...show more content...
Thus creating a world via electric signals to our brain. While the realist accepts that unobservable phenomena do exist and does not consider a theory to
be a fact but merely as approximately true.
James Robert Brown of the University of Toronto is a realist. Realism, as affirmed by Brown, is determined by scientific success, which is best
determined by theories that, first, "are able to organize and unify a great variety of unknown phenomena." (Brown, p.133). Second, latter theories
systemize data more accurately than former, lastly and most importantly " a statistically significant number of novel predictions pan out," (Brown,
p.134).
In his work, explaining the success of science, Brown tries to describe scientific success whilst defending scientific theories by contesting anti realist
ideas. Throughout the paper he mentions various anti realists along with their work regarding the succession of a theory. Bas Van Fraassen, one of
most influential anti realists, suggests that it is not at all surprising that theories are successful, given that any unsuccessful theory is rejected. He
believes that the success of science happens purely due to chance, or coincidence. Fraassen tries validate his view through Darwinian natural selection.
He says that just as species struggle for existence, so do theories. Species who do not adopt to their environment become extinct, "so too are theories
which do not make true observational predictions dropped" (Brown, p.134). A

Scientific Method
Science is an objective method used explain the natural phenomena of the universe. The practice of a scientific method provides a detailed outline that
contributes to expressing how to determine if a theory is scientific. A continual cycle that emphasizes the techniques of observations, questions,
hypothesis, prediction, experiment, and conclusion. The complications that arise when applying the scientific method to all theories is that science is
subject to change; therefore, it is hard to modify extensive ideas to a few simplified steps. A scientific explanation depends on existing experimental
theories to validate or disprove present and future logical arguments. This is because previous observations support abstract methods that may not be
testable and the continual change is dependent on specific predictions and discoveries.
Many aspects of scientific knowledge are hypothetical ideas, however, they contribute the same level of importance compared to a logical fact. A
scientific explanation is shaped from existing intelligence to develop future studies and...show more content...
Science is revised constantly; progressive observations that support and expand on existing ideas are documented. When new knowledge is interpreted
by scientists, they must perform a series of experimental trials. These observations can either confirm or contradict the analysis, both are beneficial to
resolving the experiment. Scientific explanations are dependent of proof. For example, when a new theory is published, the scientific method for the
examination is accessible for others to review. The public has the capacity to acquire the experiment's reports and contribute that data to their own
hypothesis. Science is justified through the combination of solutions. Current ideas are continually challenged by others attempting to modify and
simplify them into a universal

The Scientific Method Essay
The Scientific Method is the standardized procedure that scientists are supposed to follow when conducting experiments, in order to try to construct a
reliable, consistent, and non–arbitrary representation of our surroundings. To follow the Scientific Method is to stick very tightly to a order of
experimentation. First, the scientist must observe the phenomenon of interest. Next, the scientist must propose a hypothesis, or idea in which the
experiments will be based around. Then, through repeated experimentation, the hypothesis can either be proven false or become a theory. If the
hypothesis is proven to be false, the scientist must reformulate his or her ideas and come up with another hypothesis, and the experimentation begins
again. This...show more content...
Furthermore, flies were observed laying eggs where the maggots formed. Thus, he concluded that maggots are the result of flies, not spontaneous
generation. He then called the principles behind his experiment "Metodo Scientifico" or The Scientific Method.
The first cases of what would be considered properly using the Scientific Method can be found earlier, though, back in the studies of Galileo, early
in the 17th century. He first observed that heavy objects gain speed as they fall. He then proposed, or hypothesized, that the rate of falling of massive
objects was proportional to the distance that the object has fallen. Following the Scientific Method, he tested his hypothesis and found it to be false,
since objects falling unequal distances do not fall in the same amount of time, as his hypothesis led to. Since his hypothesis failed, he made a new one,
which proposed that the rate at which an object falls is directly proportional to the time the object has spent falling. This was tested by rolling balls
down an inclined plane and calculating the speed and time values from those observations. Later, these experiments led to the discovery of the
gravitational constant g, and a better understanding of the Scientific Method.
The Method has been used many times since Galileo conducted his experiments, and it has been considered a valid way of conducting experiments since

Science As Product And Science
SECTION 1 1a. Science as product. The aim of science is to produce knowledge, to understand and explain some aspects of the world around us.
However, scientific disciplines differ in terms of their objects of study as a science as product. Knowledge as scientific based on two criteria:
science as product and science as process l a science as product knowledge that give us more explanations or descriptions. The first type of science as
product: scientific VS non–scientific questions. Scientific questions are questions that can be answered by making observation that identify the
conditions under which certain events occur. And the answers to each questions mast take a particular form that meet the requirements of discretion,
explanation, prediction and understanding. Then, non–scientific questions cannot be observable by observation which is the opposite of scientific
questions for instance: (morality–pornographic). The second type is knowledge as description. Scientific knowledge is by definition verifiable.
Knowledge as description divided into two parts: conceptual definition (in literature review) and operational definition (for using and applied in
methods and instruments). Let?s explain each one of them clearly. The descriptive function of research relies strongly on instruments for observation
and measurement. Researchers spend a great amount of time to develop instruments. Once developed these instruments are used to describe
phenomena studied by researchers (open PH.D

Sociology As A Scientific Discipline Essay
SOCIOLOGY AS A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE
Is sociology a scientific discipline? The issue of whether sociology is a science or a scientific discipline is an issue that has raised a lot of
controversy for a long time. There are scholars who subscribe sociology is a science while others claim it is not. Even sociologists themselves have
been divided on the issue example Emile Durkheim and Auguste Comte are for the view that sociology is a science while German Sociologist
Max–Weber does not subscribe to this view. (Mondal, n.d.) To solve this controversy it is essential first to understand clearly what science is and what
sociology is.
What is science?
Science is a complex term to define and it has been given different meaning by various disciplines. In general science can be defined as a body of
knowledge that is organized and is acquired systematically through observation and experimentation to describe and explain phenomena. The term
science is also used to refer to the systematic act of acquiring knowledge. Ascientific method is used in acquiring scientific knowledge through
observation, experimentation and generalisation. (Mondal, n.d.) The knowledge collected or facts are linked together in their casual sequence to draw
well–founded inferences. (Mondal, n.d.)
Characteristics and proponents of science
i.Method– in science scientific methods are used. Scientific methods include observation, hypothesis, testing and measurement, verification and
re–verification. (Farooq, 2012)

What Are Scientific Merit?
Concept of Scientific Merit Introduction As future scholars who are working on our PhD, we tend to hear a lot about Scientific Merit. But, that
same old question might pop in our mines, which is who really cares? We should, especially if we expect the IRB to approve our research
proposal. Therefore, within this paper, we will discuss scientific merits, explain the dimensions of scientific merit, discuss the aspects of the study,
we chose for the Scientific Merit, and choose an area of scientific merit that we would improve. Scientific merit Scientific merit is considered as a
way to examine if our research study represents good science. Therefore, we will need to make sure that any research we are working on, clearly
states the research questions and its overall objectives. The research should also include the contextual data that will also have peer–reviewed literature
to support why the research is needed. We also should make sure that if human beings are being used as participants, that their privacy and safety
will be respected, and if there is any possibility of harm, no matter how small it is, and the benefit and risks whether indirect or direct for the
partakers in the study needs to be very clear in the research proposal. According to Gonzales (2013, para. 2, p. 1), the data collection, recruitment, and
analysis should align with the research questions, as well as the monitoring, safe storage, and how the data will be destroyed should also be specified.
Three

Scientific Theory Essay
Scientific Theory
A scientific theory is a well–substantiated explanation of some aspects of the natural world, based on a body of knowledge that has been repeatedly
confirmed through observation and experiment. Scientist creates scientific theories from hypothesis that have been corroborated through the scientific
method, then gather evidence to test their accuracy. The strength of a scientific theory is related to the diversity of phenomena it can explain, which is
measured by its ability to make falsifiable predictions with respect to the phenomena. Scientific theories are the most reliable, rigorous, and
comprehensive for of scientific knowledge.
The scientific method involves the proposal and testing of hypotheses, by deriving...show more content...
Theories are the main goal in science and no explanation can achieve a higher rank. (to the belief that "theories" become "laws" over time). In some
cases, theories can unify. Two or more theories can be replaces by a single theory which explains the previous theories as approximations or special
cases, comparable to the way a theorys is connecting explanation for many confirmed hypotheses: This is reffered to as Unification of Theories. Both
scientific laws and scientific theories are produced from scientific methods through the formation and testing of hypotheses, and can predict the
behavior of the natural world. Both are typically supported by observation and experimental science. However, scientific laws are descriptive accounts
of how nature will behave under certain conditions. Scientific theories are broader in scope, and give overarching explanations of how nature works
and why it exhibits certain characteristics. They are supported by evidence from many different sources, and may contain one or more laws.
Both scientific laws and scientific theories come from the scientific method through the formation and testing of hypotheses, and can predict the
behavior of the natural world. Both are usually well supported by observations and/or experimental evidence. However laws are descriptive accounts of
how nature will behave under certain conditions. Assumption is a

Ethics in Science Essay
What do you think of when you hear or see the word "science"; test tubes, Einstein, Space? Science is "generally taken as meaning either (a) the exact
sciences, such as chemistry, physics, etc., or (b) a method of thought which obtains verifiable results by reasoning logically from observed fact"
(Orwell). Scientists are those who study science by scientific method. These "men of science", which Orwell describes as "a biologist, and astronomer,
perhaps a psychologist or a mathematician", "work by means of induction and deduction, and that by the help of these operations, they, in a sort of
sense, wring from Nature certain other things, which are called natural laws, and causes, and that out of these, by some cunning skill of their own,
...show more content...
This undoubtedly demonstrations the pros and cons of inventions made through science. There are people who abuse medicine, and other creations
from science, for numerous different reasons. Things like guns and nuclear weapons were formed to protect, but with the downside of killing
others. With all of this this being said, should there be a limit to things we make? More importantly, does science have an ethical responsibility to
humanity? I think to answer that question, we need to start with deciding if scientists have an ethical responsibility to humanity. As the saying goes,
with knowledge comes power and with power comes responsibility. However, there can be no limitation on the knowledge obtained from science.
Instead, we must limit what arises from knowledge and power. What are some responsibilities of scientists and the rest of the population? Well, to
start on the broadest sense, science should only be used for the absolute necessary improvement of humanity. It is our ethical responsibility to not
take advantage of science to further the advancement of military power, as we have done with the creation of atomic and nuclear bombs. Is it
responsible to use science for fame, fortune and glory? No, and it is not acceptable, but it is common for people to do so. If, for some reason, we had
the option to save 80% of endangered wildlife through scientific means, but with the consequence of harming the atmosphere, would it be ethical to
continue on? We would have

Definition Of Scientific Management Theory Essay
Definition
The term scientific management is the combination of two words i.e. scientific and management. The word "Scientific" means systematic analytical
and objective approach while "management" means getting things done through others. Scientific management theory seeks to improve an
organization 's efficiency by systematically improving the efficiency of task completion by utilizing scientific, engineering, and mathematical analysis.
The goal is to reduce waste, increase the process and methods of production, and create a just distribution of goods. This goal serves the common
interests of employers, employees, and society.
Explanation
Scientific Management theory is important for every business it is followed by every industrial business operation whole in the world. it is a general
process of business practices such as planning, process design, quality control, ergonomics and cost accounting. This theory provide good knowledge
and understanding of industrial management. this theory also make us understand about how a one person (manager) can use quantitative analysis and
other measureable data, an examination numbers, in management to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations.
In addition to this, Fredric w.Taylor and the Gilbreths was introduced the methods of measuring worker productivity, including time studies and motion
studies, which are still used today in operations and management. After that, Henry Fayol introduced the 14 principle

Environmental Science Essay
Environmental Fundamentals
Laura Jackson
Env/100
April 8, 2013
JOHN ENSWORTH
Environmental Fundamentals
Introduction
Environmental science is defined as the study of the environment and the interconnecting systems it contains, furthermore, the way people interact with
their natural surroundings and use natural resources (wise geek, 2013). Scientist in this field is highly interdisciplinary and extremely diverse, for
example, a scientist might study volcanoes or climate change. This essay will cover the following; the definition of environmental science, the
relationship between science and technology and how it affects environmental problems; the concept of environmental sustainability and why it should
be studied; how human...show more content...
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is the process of making sure current processes of interaction with the environment are pursued with the idea of keeping
the environment as pristine as naturally possible based on ideal–seeking behavior (Wikipedia, 2010). What makes environmental sustainability so
important is that it demands that society designs activities to meet human needs while indefinitely preserving the life support systems of the planet
(Wikipedia, 2010). Human consumption can only use the nature's resources at a rate that can be replenished naturally.
Human Values affecting Society
The most devastating environmental change of all is the loss of biodiversity. The rate of species extinction has remained at one species per million per
year, furthermore, the accelerating destruction of habitats throughout the world leads to projections of the loss of two–thirds of all species on earth by
the end of this century, and millions of years to recover from the Cretaceous period (mindfully.org, 2013). As individuals, we obtain our food, directly
or indirectly from plants, for example, plant our primary use of medicines. Biodiversity also determines the properties of communities and ecosystems,
which capture energy from the sun. The world is less resilient, more homogeneous, less interesting, and with fewer opportunities for our descendants

and ourselves: where the process reaches

1.What is a scientific theory? Please cite a definition that you like.
Wikipedia defines Scientific theory, as often seeks to synthesize a body of evidence or observations of phenomena. It's generally –– though by no
means always –– a grander, testable statement about how nature operates. I see scientific theory as having a great deal of support backing it to support
and accepted it as true.
1.What is the difference between a scientific theory and common–sense ideas about the same topic (for example, why a child seeks a bottle at birth)?
A scientific theory is more like a fact than a guess because it is supported. Common sense is a usual understanding of practical matters, and
common sense is vital for day to day life. The word common sense is used in the sense of instinct. Common sense is vital to my ever day life, but
science is not vital to day to day life. I know I use common sense on a regular basis especially when I'm driving, and the light is turning yellow my
common sense lets me know to stop because oncoming traffic is coming and it's not safe to drive through the light. Also, I use common sense when
crossing the street common sense tells me to press the cross signal and wait for me to be told when to cross so that I don't get ran over
Common sense understandings fit social expectation. There is a sense of the element in the common sense understanding of social psychology. It is
accepted widely and something that is shared amongst the people of a common

Scientific Racism Definition
Pseudo–science or stereotypes are terms associated with scientific racism. The meaning of scientific racism is the use of pseudo or "fake" scientific
techniques and hypothesis by justifying inequalities between natural groups of people through scientific evidence. The first theory of scientific racism
is that natural groups of the human species are different overall worth, the second theory is that science provides a reference of authoritative
knowledge. The term pseudoscience refers to work that claims to be an authority of science, although it being systematically flawed.
Through the seventeenth century, and the time of World War II was the beginning of ScientificRacism. Racism, the discrimination targeted against
someone of a different...show more content...
For example, Tuskegee experiment airmen, which involved innocent African America airmen who were injected with syphilis to study the natural
progression of untreated syphilis during World War II. Physician Samuel A. Cartwright invented a false mental illness called drapetomania, which
caused black slaves to flee captivity. This inaccurate physiological diagnosis is a perfect example of pseudoscience, and part of the construction of
Scientific Racism. An African American woman named Henriette Lacks suffered from cervical cancer. Moreover, she visited John Hopkins Hospital
to seek treatment for her case only to take advantage of because of her unique immoral cell reproduction without her consist. These cells are referred
as HeLa cells cured various types of diseases and helped invent immunization to other diseases. Lastly, the story of Sarah Baartman also known as
"hottentot Venus" was a famous khokhoi who was exhibited as a freak show attraction in Europe, because of her enlarge posterior and labial lips that
hung down three to four inches. Baartman had mesmerizing physical features that pronounced her feminism, considered most Caucasian females have
less pronounced feminine

Definition of Science Fiction Essay
Perhaps one of the most versatile genres in films, television, books, artwork and any number of things today is science fiction. Many times I have seen
a sci–fi movie filed under comedy or drama. That is one of the major things that has led to my love for science fiction, the simple fact that it can be so
much more than just science fiction. I would like to present a definition of what science fiction is in this paper. My definition will not be exact,
because so many people have a different idea of what counts as sci–fi and, not only that, but we may have found yet another venue for science fiction
by the time this paper is complete. In order to define what science fiction is and to support my definition, I am going to give some examples...show
more content...
One could argue that this is just a fictional story or even fantasy, but it still retains an element of science and, therefore, falls into the category of
science fiction.
Time travel: is it really science fiction? Some people would not agree that it is true sci–fi since there are so many arguments as to why time travel
cannot exist. Personally, I think time travel is science fiction since it is based on our laws of physics and can be shown mathematically using
Physics (relativity, etc.). Since I believe time travel falls into this category, I would like to give a great example of a time traveling story. H.G. Wells'
The Time Machine is a fantastic story about a scientist who is ridiculed by his peers for his theories on time travel and even examples he shows them.
He ends up traveling through time in a machine that he built and has a fantastic adventure.
An interesting addition to this list of science fiction is Jurassic Park, the book and movie. The first time that someone mentioned this was sci–fi to me I
was a little surprised, but after thinking about it for a second I realized they were right. The dinosaurs were created using a scientific process and,
somewhat, neatly explained within the story. Every time I watched that movie I had never stopped to think about what genre it was, which happens
with many people I'm sure and not just with that movie. This is one of my favorite examples of science fiction because people normally just think

Anthony Giddens: A Sociological Study
By the definition, science is the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and
natural world through observation and experiment (Oxford dictionary). This crude definition is elaborated further by a world–famous sociologist
Anthony Giddens as 'the scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies. It is dazzling and compelling enterprise, as its subject matter is
our own behavior as social beings. The scope of sociological study is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between
individuals on the street to the investigation of global social processes such as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.' (Giddens: 2006)
Before the rise in...show more content...
He believed that all scientific methods share a common logical method aimed to reveal universal laws. Therefore Comte believed that sociology should
apply the same strict scientific methods to the study of society that physics or chemistry use to study the physical world. He called all sciences the
"law of the three stages" which claims that world has passed through three stages: theological (guided by religious ideas and the belief that society was
an expression of God's will), metaphysical (this stage is modification of the first one, from supernatural to natural. The beginning of a world that
questioned religion and authority.), and positive (the final stage compared to earlier stages is truly scientific, and what is now understood while we
peak of an explanation of facts is simply the establishment of a connection between single phenomena and some general facts, the number of which
continually diminishes with the progress of science.) (Comte 1855: 26)
In a very similar manner to the other social sciences, sociology is rather distinctive from natural sciences. Firstly, it is impossible to collect data on
social facts as opposed to the physical world. Social facts, unlike the natural ones, are not objective. On the contrary, social facts are reproducible as
well as created by humans. Secondly, it is not only human beings

The Principles of Scientific Thinking Essay
In psychology, the six principles of scientific thinking are extraordinary claim, falsifiability, Occam razor, replicability, ruling hypotheses of rival,
and correlation vs. causation. We know that gaining new knowledge always help the growth of our mind, but sometimes a claim may contradict
what we have already known, then we need more persuasive evidences to prove this claim before we accept it. It is natural that people doubt
something extraordinary and a very basic thinking skill that is known as extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Specifically, it can be
presented as I did not come to class today and I tell my instructor that I ate bad seafood last night and had diarrhea, then she might believe me. If I tell
...show more content...
Moreover, the studies should be replicability, it means that repeating the results in other studies ought to be the exact same, which makes it easier to
discover errors and ensure that the result is reliable. For example, Medical News Today reported that "a patient who also has acute myeloid leukemia
has been cured of HIV infection after a stem–cell transplant combined with high–dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy", German scientists put
forward some people carry a mutant gene seems to allow them to have the innate ability to resist HIV, the genes inherited from the parents called
"Delta 32". Although there have been rare cured HIV cases, but such experiment is highly risky and currently no effective vaccine to prevent and
completely cure AIDS and HIV. ("Evidence") Thus here the cured patient's case is not possibly being redo, which is not replicability. By ruling
hypotheses of rival, it means when we are evaluating a claim, we need to make sure that whether other plausible explanations have been excluded.
Examples for ruling out rival hypotheses could be that if black people have better performance in athletics, there should be more research to make sure
the results are not due to better diet and training or other possible factors. And also, race

Scientific Notation Essay
Scientific Notation
Essential question: How can you use scientific notation to express numbers of different quantities?
Scientific notation is a method of writing or displaying numbers in terms of a decimal number between 1 and 10, which is multiplied by a power of 10
Ex. Step 1 – 3 105 First, you would solve for the exponents Step 2 – 3 100000 Then, you would multiply the factors that are left Step 3 – 300000
Lastly, you get your answer
Essential Answer: Scientific Notation can be used to express different quantities by reducing a large or small number into a short mathematical sentence.
Integers
Essential Question: Why are using integers easier than a...show more content...
How to find a 3D figures Volume
Essential Question: What figures does volume apply to?
Volume is the amount of 3–dimensional space an object occupies. In the equations for volume, B means area of the bases and h means distance
between the bases. Remember to always add the cubed sign at the end of your answer ( # unit3).
Ex. Find the volume of a figure that is 5 in. long, 7 in. wide, and 8 in. tall. Step 1– V = BhFirst, find the equation for the figure.
Step 2– V = (35)8Then, find the base and substitute.
Step 3– V = 280 in3Lastly, solve for V.
Essential Answer: It applies to only 3D figures.
How to find a 3D figures Surface Area
Essential Question: How is finding surface area different than finding volume?
Surface area is the total area of the surface of a three–dimensional object. For surface area, the equation is SA = Ph + 2B. P stands for the perimeter of
the base. The h stands for the distance between the bases. B stands for area of the bases.
Ex. Find the volume of a box that is 2 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 3 feet

What is psychology? The definition of psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. There are three key terms in the definition
of psychology – science, behavior, and mental process. Psychology uses systematic methods to observe human behavior and draw conclusions.
Behavior is anything that we do that is visible by another person, and mental processes are the thoughts and feelings that we experience but that are not
noticeable by another person.
For thousands of years, people all around the world have been asking the question why? Over the years, people have made up their own stories to
explain to others why things are the way they are. These stories get passed on through families and make their way down the lines of each generation.
These stories eventually became known as myths, or folklore tales. Greece and Rome were and still are very known for their myths and are still taught
in schools present day. Though myths and folklore may be intriguing to hear, not everyone believed in them. Philosophers, those who believe that there
is a natural and rational explanation for all things, then came to be.
Wilhelm Wundt was a German philosopher–physician who created the academic discipline of psychology by meshing together philosophy and natural
science. Wundt believed that it could be possible for a person's mental process to be measured by the time it took for a person's brain and nervous
system to translate into action. Wundt's main focus was discovering

Positivism Essay
Positivism
Positivism is a scientific approach to sociology (the science of society As Keat and Urry ('social theory as science', 1975) note:
'Positivism is concerned only with observable phenomena. It involves establishing law–like relations between them through the careful accumulation of
factual knowledge. This occurs by means of observation, experimentation, comparison and prediction.'
The terms' sociology' and 'positive philosophy' (positivism) were both coined by Auguste Comte (the founder of Sociology), an educated philosopher,
born on January 19th 1798 in Montpellier, France. He grew up and studied after a great period of change. There had been the French revolution, the
Industrial...show more content...
The three stages societies progress through are outlined below.
Comte thought that society (and indeed the sciences) went through three distinct stages; Theological, Metaphysical and Positive. He thought when
society had reached the end of the positivistic stage it would be Utopia where the world was ruled by experts in each field. The common person
wouldn't need to make
their own decisions as everything would be thought out for them.
В· THEOLOGICAL: Military. (Middle Ages)
– Natural phenomena explained as being the will of God/supernatural forces
– The family is basic social unit
В· METAPHYSICAL:Judicial (1300–1700)

– Mysterious abstract forces employed to explain natural p
Phenomena (e.g. a force in the object itself)
– The state is social unit.
В· POSITIVISTIC:Industrial (1800+)
– The last and highest stage
– Scientific method/invariant laws describe and explain all phenomena
After the basic law of the three stages is Comte's theory of the hierarchy of sciences. As humans progress through the above stages each dependant on
the preceding, so do the sciences (hence all sciences contribute to sociology) Starting with the purest and simplest and ascending in complexity.
В· Mathematics
В· Astronomy
В· Physics

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