This document provides instructions and content for a science class on the limits of science. It discusses three key areas where science cannot provide answers: questions of value, morality, and the supernatural. It also defines pseudoscience and provides examples like astrology, phrenology, and numerology. The document instructs students on note taking for the lesson, including underlining, italics, and subheadings to guide notetaking.

1. 06/09/13
Warm Up Activity – 250 secondsWarm Up Activity – 250 seconds
Do you know your star sign?Do you know your star sign?
–How does it influence yourHow does it influence your
life?life?

2. 06/09/13
Unit 1 Part B- Science &Unit 1 Part B- Science &
SocietySociety
Sunday, June 9, 2013Sunday, June 9, 2013
How can you use the scientific inquiry andHow can you use the scientific inquiry and
math to solve everyday problems?math to solve everyday problems?
How can you determine the limits of science?How can you determine the limits of science?

3. 06/09/13
Instructions for note takingInstructions for note taking
 Head upHead up
 Name,Name,
 Date,Date,
 Subject: ScienceSubject: Science
 Topic: Limits of ScienceTopic: Limits of Science
 If it isIf it is underlined YESSSSSSunderlined YESSSSSS
write it downwrite it down..
 If it is inIf it is in italicsitalics
YESSSSSSSS write it downYESSSSSSSS write it down..
 If it is in green it’s a usefulIf it is in green it’s a useful
subheading/ key pts/ vocabsubheading/ key pts/ vocab
defdefnn
when taking noteswhen taking notes..

4. What are the limits of science?What are the limits of science?
 There are some kinds of questions for whichThere are some kinds of questions for which
scientific problem solving is unsuited.scientific problem solving is unsuited. In otherIn other
words, science has limitations.words, science has limitations.
 There areThere are three primary areasthree primary areas for whichfor which
science can't help us answer our questions.science can't help us answer our questions.
All of these have the same problem:All of these have the same problem: TheThe
questions they present don't have testablequestions they present don't have testable
answersanswers. Since testability is so vital to the. Since testability is so vital to the
scientific process, these questions simply fallscientific process, these questions simply fall
outside the venue of science.outside the venue of science.

5. The three areas of limitation areThe three areas of limitation are
 Science can't answer questions about valueScience can't answer questions about value..
– For example, there is no scientific answer to the questions,For example, there is no scientific answer to the questions,
"Which of these flowers is prettier?" or "which smells worse,"Which of these flowers is prettier?" or "which smells worse,
a skunk or a skunk cabbage?" And of course, there's thea skunk or a skunk cabbage?" And of course, there's the
more obvious example, "Which is more valuable, one ouncemore obvious example, "Which is more valuable, one ounce
of gold or one ounce of steel?" Our culture places value onof gold or one ounce of steel?" Our culture places value on
the element gold, but if what you need is something to buildthe element gold, but if what you need is something to build
a skyscraper with, gold, a very soft metal, is pretty useless.a skyscraper with, gold, a very soft metal, is pretty useless.
So there's no way to scientifically determine value.So there's no way to scientifically determine value.

6. MoralityMorality
 The problem of deciding good and bad, rightThe problem of deciding good and bad, right
and wrong, is outside the determination ofand wrong, is outside the determination of
science. This is why expert scientificscience. This is why expert scientific
witnesses can never help us solve thewitnesses can never help us solve the
dispute over abortion: all a scientist can telldispute over abortion: all a scientist can tell
you is what is going on as a fetus develops;you is what is going on as a fetus develops;
the question of whether it is right or wrong tothe question of whether it is right or wrong to
terminate those events is determined byterminate those events is determined by
cultural and social rules--in other words,cultural and social rules--in other words,
morality. The science can't help here.morality. The science can't help here.

7. SupernaturalSupernatural
 Finally, science can't help us with questions about the supernatural.Finally, science can't help us with questions about the supernatural.
The prefix "super" means "above." So supernatural means "aboveThe prefix "super" means "above." So supernatural means "above
(or beyond) the natural." The toolbox of a scientist contains only the(or beyond) the natural." The toolbox of a scientist contains only the
natural laws of the universe; supernatural questions are outsidenatural laws of the universe; supernatural questions are outside
their reach.their reach.
In view of this final point, it's interesting how many scientists haveIn view of this final point, it's interesting how many scientists have
forgotten their own limitations. Every few years, some scientist willforgotten their own limitations. Every few years, some scientist will
publish a book claiming that he or she has either proven thepublish a book claiming that he or she has either proven the
existence of a god, or proven that no god exists. Of course, even ifexistence of a god, or proven that no god exists. Of course, even if
science could prove anything (which it can't), it certainly can't provescience could prove anything (which it can't), it certainly can't prove
this, since by definition a god is a supernatural phenomenon.this, since by definition a god is a supernatural phenomenon.

8. PseudosciencePseudoscience
 AA pseudosciencepseudoscience is ais a belief or processbelief or process
whichwhich masquerades as sciencemasquerades as science in anin an
attempt to claim a legitimacyattempt to claim a legitimacy which itwhich it
would not otherwise be able to achievewould not otherwise be able to achieve
on its own terms;on its own terms;
 Chinese medicine, acupuncture aren’tChinese medicine, acupuncture aren’t
pseudoscience – make no such claimspseudoscience – make no such claims

9.  characterized by (few not all)characterized by (few not all)
– the use of vague, exaggerated orthe use of vague, exaggerated or
untestable claimsuntestable claims,,
– over-reliance on confirmation ratherover-reliance on confirmation rather
than refutation,than refutation,
– lack of openness to testing by otherlack of openness to testing by other
experts,experts,
– a lack of progress in theorya lack of progress in theory
development.development.

10. Vague, exaggerated or un-testable claimsVague, exaggerated or un-testable claims
 Assert sci. claims that are vague, lack specificAssert sci. claims that are vague, lack specific
measurementsmeasurements..
 use of apparently technical jargonuse of apparently technical jargon in an effort toin an effort to
give claims the superficial trappings of sciencegive claims the superficial trappings of science..

11. Over-reliance on confirmation vs.Over-reliance on confirmation vs.
refutationrefutation
 claims that aren’t testable or falsifiableclaims that aren’t testable or falsifiable
 Over-reliance on testimonial, anecdotalOver-reliance on testimonial, anecdotal
evidence, personal experienceevidence, personal experience
 Only present evidence that supportsOnly present evidence that supports
their claimstheir claims

12. Absence of progressAbsence of progress
 failure to progress towards additionalfailure to progress towards additional
evidence of its claimsevidence of its claims
– astrology as a subject that hasastrology as a subject that has
changed very little in the past twochanged very little in the past two
millenniamillennia
 lack of self correctionlack of self correction::
– scientific research programmes makescientific research programmes make
mistakes, but they tend to eliminatemistakes, but they tend to eliminate
these errors over time.these errors over time.

13. Lack of openness to testing byLack of openness to testing by
other expertsother experts
 evasion of peer review beforeevasion of peer review before
publicizing resultspublicizing results
 appeal for secrecy of results orappeal for secrecy of results or
methodsmethods

14. AstrologyAstrology
 belief that the movements and positionsbelief that the movements and positions
of celestial bodies either directlyof celestial bodies either directly
influence life on Earth or relate toinfluence life on Earth or relate to
human everyday experienceshuman everyday experiences
 the calculation of the horoscope orthe calculation of the horoscope or
astrological chart.astrological chart.
– The horoscope is also divided intoThe horoscope is also divided into
twelve different celestial housestwelve different celestial houses
which govern different areas of life.which govern different areas of life.

16. PhrenologyPhrenology
 developed German physician Franzdeveloped German physician Franz
Joseph Gall 1796Joseph Gall 1796
 popular from about 1810 until 1840popular from about 1810 until 1840
 a person's capacity for a givena person's capacity for a given
personality traitpersonality trait could be determinedcould be determined
simply bysimply by measuring the area of themeasuring the area of the
skullskull that overlies thethat overlies the correspondingcorresponding
area of the brain.area of the brain.

18. NumerologyNumerology
 relationship between numbers and physicalrelationship between numbers and physical
objects or living things.objects or living things.
 Number definitions – use simple alg, gmtryNumber definitions – use simple alg, gmtry
– There are no set definitions for the meaningThere are no set definitions for the meaning
of specific digits. e.g.of specific digits. e.g.
1. Individual. Aggressor. Yang.1. Individual. Aggressor. Yang.
2. Balance. Union. Receptive. Yin.2. Balance. Union. Receptive. Yin.
3. Communication/interaction. Neutrality.3. Communication/interaction. Neutrality.
4. Creation.4. Creation.
5. Action. Restlessness.5. Action. Restlessness.
6. Reaction/flux. Responsibility.6. Reaction/flux. Responsibility.
7. Thought/consciousness.7. Thought/consciousness.
8. Power/sacrifice.8. Power/sacrifice.
9. Highest level of change.9. Highest level of change.

19. Choose ONLY 1:Choose ONLY 1: due Thursday, November 8thdue Thursday, November 8th
1.1. Construct a simple board game (e.g.Construct a simple board game (e.g.
based on Snakes and Ladders ® orbased on Snakes and Ladders ® or
Monopoly®) or card game (e.g. basedMonopoly®) or card game (e.g. based
on Concentration® designed to teachon Concentration® designed to teach
the differences between science andthe differences between science and
pseudoscience. Play it with a friend.pseudoscience. Play it with a friend.
2.2. Complete the PseudoscienceComplete the Pseudoscience
worksheetworksheet

20. ReferencesReferences
 http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fanchhttp://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fanch
er/limits.htmer/limits.htm