Empirical Logic - Cover Sheet SCI Home | SCI Faculty Page | Case Notes | Reference List | Users Notes

Author - John Shepherd - Fall 1997

Case Purpose This case focuses attention on the relations between observations, assumptions and conclusions. The exercises are short enough that they can also be used as group-building activities.

Relation to Texts Ziman discusses Logical Necessity (Sec 2.3), Prediction (2.8). In 'the logic of experience' (2.6) and the 'fit between theory and experiment' (2.9) he talks about the lack of certainty in interpretation of sets of observations.

Description of Case Materials This case is a set of multiple choice exercises that can be done by groups. Each exercise is phrased as a multiple choice question in which rejected and accepted answers must be defended by written arguments.

Case Use Each one of the exercises will take 15 to 20 minutes of group discussion, so these can not all be done in a single class meeting. The problems can raise issue that are then discuss with the whole class.

Reference List This format for critical thinking exercises was popularized by Robert Allen and David Stroup in Biology courses.