The Smart TOK Podcast
The purpose of science is to make things simpler and not more complicated. Scientists strive to discover theories and explanations that simplify the view of our world and not complicate them. According to Wiliam of Ockham (c. 1288 – c. 1347), if there are competing explanations for a phenomenon, the simpler explanation is to be… Continue reading TS007 – Make it as simple as possible, but no simpler!
If we want to reach an objective description of our world, then we need to reduce these subjective influences. We need standardized procedures in gaining further knowledge of our world. The scientific method is such a standardized procedure in gaining further knowledge in the natural sciences. One of the goals of science is to explain… Continue reading TS006 – What is the scientific method?
In this edition of TOKSmart we will talk about Karl Poppers contributions to the philosophy of science. Sir Reimund Karl Popper is considered to be one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century, and of course it is difficult, if not impossible, to summarize his contributions in a few minutes (or a few… Continue reading TS005 – What is the principle of falsification?
In this edition of TOKSmart we will explore if it is in principle possible to measure anything accurately. How does a measurement change the value of that what you want to measure? Listen to find out! Every measurement changes the object that we want to measure. This is called the Observer Effect. When we stick… Continue reading TS004 – What is the Observer Effect?
In this episode I would like to explain why hot water freezes faster than cold water, when put into the freezer. It is a very counter-intuitive observation, it’s a paradox. This is called the Mpemba Effect. The effect is named according to Tanzanian high-school student Erasto B. Mpemba who re-discovered the effect while making ice-cream,… Continue reading TS003 – The Mpemba Effect: Mind your variables!
