For a classic discussion
Agreement:
I do agree with the idea that facts based on observations are far more complex than just looking at something to see if it is true or not. If observations can vary based on prior knowledge, then it is variable across different people, meaning what one person sees doesn't always exactly match what another one might. Observations can and should be challenged in order to expand what we truly know and see as facts.
Further reading
Chapter Summary:
Chalmers argues that science is not only governed by observations alone. Observations can be influenced by prior knowledge and cultural backgrounds, therefore can be flawed unless given as a statement. Even then, these statements can be proven wrong as science progresses.
But it does show that anyview to the effect that scientific knowledge is based on the factsacquired by observation must allow that the facts as well as theknowledge are fallible and subject to correction and that scientificknowledge and the facts on which it might be said to be based areinterdependent.
FLAG: scientific knowledge is based on fact and observable statement, but these observations are subject to correction as science advances
The point is that if theknowledge that provides the categories we use to describe ourobservations is defective, the observation statements that presup-pose those categories are similarly defective.
FLAG
Knowledgeabout the moon’s surface is not based on and derived from moun-tains and craters but from factual statements about mountains andcraters.
FLAG: it isn't just about knowing the facts, it is about how you present them
He stillsees only a fraction of what the experts can see, but the picturesare definitely making sense now and so do most of the commentsmade on them.
the more you observe, the more you learn about something
It would seem that there is a sense in which what anobserver sees is affected by his or her past experience.
FLAG: elaborates on the focal point: observation can be influenced by prior knowledge
(a) Facts are directly given to careful, unprejudiced observers viathe senses.(b) Facts are prior to and independent of theory.(c) Facts constitute a firm and reliable foundation for scientificknowledge.
focal points
One concerns the nature ofthese ‘facts’ and how scientists are meant to have access to them.The second concerns how the laws and theories that constituteour knowledge are derived from the facts once they have beenobtained.
main focal points
a common view of science, that scientificknowledge is derived from the fact,
FLAG: common view of science
Science is to be based on what we can see, hear andtouch rather than on personal opinions or speculative imaginings.
main thesis
Nevertheless, we will find that the slogan is not entirelymisguided and I will attempt to formulate a defensible version of it.
leading to main argument