Philosophy of Science

Why does the scientific method work so well at revealing truths about the natural world? How do scientific communities decide which questions are worth investigating? What are the limitations of experimentation in fields like astronomy or climate science? How do scientists handle uncertainty in areas where the evidence is incomplete? What scientific finding has most changed how you see the world?

Why are scientific models useful even when everyone knows they are simplified or incomplete? How do theories gain credibility within a scientific community? Why do scientific explanations sometimes conflict with common sense? Can two competing scientific theories both be partially true? Have you ever had to adjust your thinking after learning a more accurate scientific explanation?

What ethical responsibilities do scientists have when their discoveries could cause harm? How should society regulate technologies that might outpace our moral understanding? Why do scientific controversies often become political? How does the funding of research influence what gets studied? Which emerging scientific field do you think raises the biggest ethical questions?