Current Events > How did alchemists and early scientists barrow things down?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I mean they start from the premise anything can be magical or scientific

Narrow*

In terms of what experiments to do and etc. In modern day things are so specific you have some idea of where to start, because you have problems...

They just started rubbing various things on dead rabbits and then touching people with them to see what happened.

Alteres posted...

They just started rubbing various things on dead rabbits and then touching people with them to see what happened.

Ok... I mean what did they do after that... how do you go from effect to rational process

Replication of effect, not understanding of the root process.

The latter most likely came from sitting around after too many pints (or amphorae) and bullshitting until it sounded good. Which is pretty much what out theorists do, they just get all boring with math afterward.

Humors and Einstein are pretty much proof of that.

Scientists eventually found the rational basis for most things, I suppose it gets easier the more stuff you know but there must have been a time where they went from empirical nothingness to evidence for rational ground through experience.

The real explanation is probably cross processes and understanding with their accompanying theories.

Once you can replicate enough experiments successfully you begin to have a working knowledge on various subjects, you then begin to see which theories have a rational explanation that fits similar mechanics in a field.

You throw out the ones that fail to explain, and keep the ones that dont and just keep building from there.

I actually wanted to write a thesis for my undergrad on this at the end of the program, but it would be more about presenting an idea I had and separating things from it until the scientific ground is the only thing left.

I don't know what classes to take and I might not even go back though.

Supersex420 posted...

Scientists eventually found the rational basis for most things, I suppose it gets easier the more stuff you know but there must have been a time where they went from empirical nothingness to evidence for rational ground through experience.

I mean, it was no different than early humans and animals figuring out what was and wasn't edible.

Trial and error.

You see a berry in a bush. You eat it. You get sick. You don't eat those berries anymore.

Supersex420 posted...

I actually wanted to write a thesis for my undergrad on this at the end of the program, but it would be more about presenting an idea I had and separating things from it until the scientific ground is the only thing left.

I don't know what classes to take and I might not even go back though.

That sounds like a subset of philosophy the way you explained it.