Science in ancient times was only in its infancy. And often it was done by loners, who, moreover, were mostly philosophers. But with the advent of the scientific method, things have progressed significantly. And an empirical fact plays a significant role in this.
Introductory information
To theoretically master the object, one study is not enough. In practice, we also need tools to comprehend it in certain forms. In their role are facts, ideas, problems, conjectures, hypotheses and theories. Moreover, the latter deals not only with a description, but also with an explanation of already discovered moments, and thanks to its heuristic function, it can predict previously unknown information. It should be noted that an empirical fact serves as a starting point for explaining and revealing the essence of the observed phenomenon. Moreover, no scientific theory can replace this initial form of knowledge. After all, they always "build up" over certain facts. Without them, it is impossible to formulate a problem, put forward ideas, guesses, form hypotheses and theories.
What is an empirical level of knowledge?
Scientific facts differ from what the average layman puts into this concept. After all, what are they? The fact for many is phenomena, things and events. They are our sensations, perceptions of objects, their properties. That is, things themselves are facts, as well as knowledge about them. And this is already a doubling of the nomenclature of concepts.
If a scientific empirical fact was an exact copy of a real existing situation, then its mere existence would be superfluous. But after all, certain epistemological and logical conclusions obtained from something are of interest. It is also impossible to interpret fact as truth, because with this approach its essential component is eliminated (namely, the ontological essence) and the connection with reality is lost. Moreover, if the facts are considered solely as an epistemological phenomenon, then they cannot fulfill the most important function assigned to them - to serve as an empirical basis in putting forward hypotheses and creating theories.
And what to do in this case?
Let us temporarily distance ourselves from multiple definitions and dwell on specific signs. Scientific knowledge acquires the property of factuality in those cases when they:
- They are reliable.
- They serve as a starting point in the formulation and solution of a scientific problem.
All other properties are derived from the above two. Based on this, it should be noted that the form of empirical knowledge is a fact that is justified, proven and indisputable. Moreover, it is based on the principle of objectivity (this means an adequate description and explanation of the essence of the phenomenon under study). Thanks to this, facts are spoken of as stubborn things that should be recognized whether they like them or not.
How to get them?
The objective nature of the facts is laid down in the procedures for obtaining them (observation and experiment). In this case, it is necessary to take into account the subjective moments associated with random interference and errors of the researcher, which leads to a distortion of the studied phenomena. How is this problem solved? For this, it is necessary to determine the stable content of the data obtained in the framework of observation and experiment, as well as give them a theoretical explanation.
But there are a number of difficulties. For example, in the social sciences it is much more difficult to determine the objective nature of a fact than in the exact ones. Here you can quote the words of Dilthey: "We explain nature, we understand spiritual life." Despite the difficulties encountered, it should be noted that they are not limited solely to the social and humanitarian sphere. Subject-object relations are characteristic not only for relationships between people, but also when working with nature. One can cite the following statement from physics: "No quantum phenomenon can be considered as such until it is registered (observable)."
A few words about the principle of objectivity
Often you can find his identification with the validity and intersubjectivity of knowledge. This approach is regularly met with sharp criticism. It is based on the assertion that the community of knowledge is a derivative of its objective nature. These are far from all the problems that the empirical fact poses before the scientific community - a perceived and meaningful phenomenon. Acceptance of this fact as the initial form of cognition makes us consider it as the unity of the direct and the indirect. That is, the beginning of a scientific theory and due to the previous course of science of its current development.
It follows from this that the nature of the fact is ambivalent. What does it look like in practice? On the one hand, the fact acts in the role of something simple (observed in the emerging theory), not mediated by anything. It can be considered as an abstract and one-sided moment of the whole, an element of the content system. Moreover, its value is determined by the nature of the object in question.
On the other hand, a fact is always mediated, because it cannot exist outside a certain system of knowledge within which it arises and is proved. That is, the way that they exist in their pure form simply cannot be. There is always a certain connection with theoretical constructions. This situation is due to the continuity of science. As an example of such theoretical constructs, one can cite: “point”, “ideal gas”, “force”, “circle”.
Formation of the fact
Mediation is due not only to the theory within which it exists, but also to many other frontier developments. In process of advancement, development, detailing and substantiation, the fact becomes a multilayer structure. He is repeatedly evaluated, interpreted, gets new meanings and formulations. As a result of this process, scientists are gaining a more complete understanding of the fact. That is, it is not just a phenomenon of reality, but a correlation with the scientific context of the data volume.
Generalization of empirical facts
So, we have already reviewed quite a lot of information. Let's try to formulate an acceptable definition. An empirical fact is a phenomenon of social or natural reality that has become the subject of scientific knowledge and has received a satisfactory explanation. One interesting point follows from this: fact is always a concrete-mental form of theoretical knowledge in the broad sense. Therefore, it can be represented as a unity of the objective and subjective. This happens due to practical activities, changes to the object (subordinate to the conscious goal of a person).
How to check them?
An empirical study of the facts involves the implementation of "experimental practice." At the same time, two important components are distinguished:
- The interaction of objects, proceeding according to natural laws.
- Artificial, human-organized change.
Moreover, the second component is due to the first (and you have to deal with a subjective object). He also acts as a conscious goal, allowing you to develop a selective attitude of the observer to the objective connections of the subject of study. This is manifested in the fact that, in the course of the actions taken, he has the opportunity to evaluate and organize empirical material, "clearing" the facts from unnecessary influence, selecting the most representative and significant data, and re-checking the doubtful results. All this allows you to get relatively reliable information.
Verification, Representativeness and Invariance
Speaking about the inverse effect of empirical facts on the foundations of science, it should be noted that all data should be verifiable using an acceptable method from the standpoint of scientific methodology. In this case, most often remember about observation and experiment. That is, during the verification, you can evaluate the essence of the phenomenon, about which there is a factual statement.
Representativeness allows spreading the identified information to the entire group of situations of a similar type. In this case, it is extrapolated to an unlimited set of homogeneous and isomorphic cases that express the essence of the existing fact. Invariance is presented as a certain independence from the knowledge system in which the phenomenon in question is located. This is due to the objective content of the facts. This property assumes that there is not only internal independence in the framework of a certain theory, but also a number of them (provided that they belong to the same subject area).
About examples
Talking about facts in general descriptive tones is pretty good. But let's look in more detail and carefully what they are, using examples. Empirical facts are:
- The statement that the multiplication of cells and microorganisms is due to the presence of a nucleus in which there are genes. Check it out is very simple. It is enough to simply remove the core from the microorganism, and then we can state that its development has stopped.
- A statement about the presence of gravity, which attracts objects with a certain force. The simplest example is to take and jump. No matter how hard a man tries, he will still find himself on the ground. Although, if you develop a second cosmic speed (about eleven kilometers per second), then there is a chance to break away and fly up. A little harder is to observe the solar system.
- The statement that water can have different surface tension values, which prevents it from mixing. The most common example is the point of contact between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
- The claim that lenses can be used to assemble an optical system that will greatly enhance the capabilities of the human eye. Example: telescope and microscope.
conclusions
A scientific fact, although it is a direct form of empirical knowledge, is theoretical due to its indirect nature. Moreover, its duality is observed. So, he is both a representative of reality and part of a theoretical system. One has to deal with the complex dialectic of the interactions and interpenetration of these two aspects. An empirical fact acts as the initial basis for theoretical activity, as well as the result of scientific knowledge. Potentially, their number in the universe goes to infinity. In order not to drown in this sea, a certain selection criterion should be used. Indeed, not all facts are of interest to science, but only material ones.