Nullius in Verba Episode 64: Scientia de Scientia - I
Aug 16, 2025
Delve into the intriguing realm of metascience, exploring its historical roots and its distinction from the philosophy and history of science. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding scientific methods and historical context for improving practices. Discover how psychology intertwines with scientific inquiry, the significance of academic freedom, and the challenges posed by replication studies. Plus, learn about innovative courses aimed at bridging gaps in metascience education and fostering integrity in academic publishing.
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Metascience As A Pragmatic Science
- Metascience is framed as a pragmatic, empirical study of how science works and how to improve it in practice.
- Its roots combine empiricism, methodological rationalism, and American pragmatism into a "science of science."
Four Pillars Of Metascience
- Daniël Lakens argues metascience should be interdisciplinary, combining philosophy, history, sociology, and psychology of science.
- He calls these the four pillars and says working across them is essential to meaningful metascientific work.
Use Philosophy To Frame Empirical Questions
- Integrate philosophy when doing metascience because normative and epistemic aims shape empirical questions.
- Use philosophical viewpoints to justify which scientific practices to test or reform.
