What is the difference between the metaphysical and the epistemological?
What is the difference between the metaphysical and the epistemological? This and other questions were the order of the day for the second cohort on February 16th as part of their research ethics course. The course started off with practical matters such as scientific fraud and plagiarism. Next the students were introduced to the philosophy underpinning the idea of truth, a concept vital for scientists to ensure that they can recognise truth when they find it. Finally the course explained the various ideas behind ethics to enable students to engage and react to ethical issues in their fields. The course initially caused some puzzlement but by means of debates and discussions throughout the day the confusion was gradually lifted and an appreciation of what the philosophical method can bring to science was gained.
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