Isaac Newton is known as one of the most important
philosophers and scientists within the Western World. His work Mathematical Principles
of Natural Philosophy published in 1687 helped others understand the
differences between science and magical thinking. The work put forward basic
concepts that have ever since been part of scientific thinking. It is a process
of weighing, comparing, measuring, reasoning, and philosophizing.
Rule
1: We are to admit no more causes of natural things that such as are both true
and sufficient to explain their appearances.
Confounding variables in research is not a
beneficial event for furthering understanding. We sometimes have this natural
propensity to become more complex, more theoretical, and abstract in our
overall analysis. The more parsimonious the explanations the more likely it is
to be correct. Researchers should seek the simple explanations first before
become complex.
Rule
2: Therefore to the same natural effects we must, as far as possible, assign
the same causes.
This is an integration of causes. When the same
cause and effect is experienced in two different phenomenon there is likely to
be a similar mechanism at play. Exploring and understanding these mechanisms
and how they apply to different circumstances can lead one to understand more
basic and fundamental principles of cause and effect.
Rule 3: The
qualities of bodies, which admit neither intension nor remission of degrees,
and which are found to belong to all bodies within the reach of our
experiments, are to be esteemed the universal qualities of all bodies
whatsoever.
When different bodies (i.e. organisms) share common
principles they can be seen as similar. Analysis of these bodies may find an
element that is present in all other properties. It is possible to think about
how the ion spins around the atom, the atom spins around the object, the object
spins around the earth, and the earth spins around the sun and the sun spins
around the universe. Gravity as an
element is universal as far as we can understand.
Rule 4: In
experimental philosophy we are to look upon propositions collected by general
induction from phenomena as accurately or very nearly true, notwithstanding any
contrary hypotheses that may be imagined, till such time as other phenomena
occur, by which they may either be made more accurate, or liable to exceptions.
Experimental research is a process. What we believe
today may not be what we believe tomorrow. As new analysis information comes
forward the principles by which we base science change to incorporate that
information. Validity is created through repetition. When it is not repeated in
similar circumstances new explanations are needed.
