The Dissenter

#1112 Angela Potochnik - Recipes for Science: An Introduction to Scientific Methods and Reasoning

Jun 19, 2025
Angela Potochnik, a philosophy professor and director at the Center for Public Engagement with Science, dives into the fascinating world of scientific methods. She discusses the crucial role of science in everyday life and the impact of public understanding on trust in scientific research. Potochnik explores the distinctions between experimental and non-experimental methods, emphasizing the importance of statistics and cognitive diversity in fostering robust inquiry. Her insights illuminate the interplay of science with social values and the creative process of scientific discovery.
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INSIGHT

Why Care About Science

  • Science is one of our best tools for gaining empirical knowledge about the world.
  • Understanding science helps us judge when scientific claims are trustworthy or deceptive.
INSIGHT

Why Public Opinion Lags

  • Scientific knowledge is often behind public opinion due to expertise division and communication challenges.
  • Politicization and social identity also contribute to lagging public scientific understanding.
INSIGHT

Limits of Science

  • Science generates empirical knowledge based on sensory data shared collectively.
  • It excels at answering questions empirical data can address directly or indirectly.
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