Is Every Scientific Experiment Arbitrary?
Narrow Inductive Model of Scientific Investigation requires the following: 1. Observe and record all facts. 2. Classify and analyze without prior hypothesis. 3. Induce generalizations from observed facts. But scientists never follow this utopic principles when they conduct their experiments. They do not observe and record all facts. How can they? Their previous observations, reflections and expectations determine the relevant facts and experiments. You must be familiar with Newton’s “Experimentation Cruces” on the nature of light and colors. A skeptic could object to his findings by claiming that he started his experiment with an a priori hypothesis and with arbitrary decisions: “Why didn’t Newton measure the temperature of the room? Why didn’t he consider the distance of the source of light? Why did he ignore the role of the type of the mir ror? etc….” As you know, Newton had a better intuition than any of his contemporary scientists about which phenomena were relevant and which wer
