Transcript Human Sciences

Human Sciences
Questions from last class

Should trends in human behavior be
used/referenced in criminal convictions
considering the problem of free will?
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TWE can math be used to predict human
aptitude?
Considering the Numbers episode…
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Reflecting on the episode, TWE can math accurately predict human
behavior?
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How does behavior link to aptitude?
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Can math be considered the language of Natural Science but not
Human Science if they are both “sciences”?
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Assuming mathematical or natural scientific evaluation of aptitude is
accurate, should we allow it do dictate funding for schools?
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Which influences human behavior more: will or ability?
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How can we distinguish between natural and human science when
studying the abilities of human beings?
Human Sciences:
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Study the reality of being human
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More specifically, the human sciences study the social,
cultural and biological aspects of human existence.
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Uses the scientific method to test hypotheses
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Relies more heavily on statistics
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Includes things such as anthropology, economics,
psychology, sociology
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Significant contributors: Smith, Ricardo, Keynes,
Friedmann in economics, Boas in anthropology, Freud,
Watson in psychology
Hawthorne Effect
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Change in behavior due to the fact that the
participants know they are being observed
Verstehen approach

The inquirer drawing on his/her
own experiences as evidence in
his/her investigation in the
human sciences
Names in Human Sci
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Economics
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Smith,
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Ricardo
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Keynes
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Friedmann
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Anthropology
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Boas
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Psychology
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Freud
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Watson
Common Econ Models
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Microeconomics
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Supply and Demand
Basic Supply and Demand
Who Pays a Sales Tax?
The Cobweb Model
and Inventory-Based Pricing#

Theory of the Firm
Perfect Competition#
Monopoly / Monopolistic
Competition
Price Discrimination
The Demand for Labor

Theory of the Consumer
Two Goods - Two Prices#
Intertemporal Substitution
Labor Supply, Income Taxes,
and Transfer Payments
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•
•
Macroeconomics
Models in Chronological Order
The Classical Model#
The Simple Keynesian Model
The Keynesian IS/LM Model#
The Mundell-Fleming Model#
Real Business Cycles
The IS/MP Model
The Solow Growth Model
Financial Markets
Utility-Based Valuation of Risk
Mean-Variance Analysis:
Risk vs. Expected Return
Fixed Income Securities:
Mortgage/Bond Calculator
Growth Investments:
Present Value Calculator
Common Anthropology Models
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Anthropology is the study of humans past and present
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It is frequently classified 4 ways:
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Sociocultural
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Biological
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Archaeological
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Linguistic
Common Psych Models
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Asch Conformity Experiemnts
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Pavlov’s Dogs
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Harry Harlow and Science of Love
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Milgram Obedience Experiment
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Bobo Doll Experiment
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Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment
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Little Albert Experiment
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Seligman & Learned Helplessness
Classic Psychological Experiments
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Milgram
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Background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOYLCy5PVgM
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Would you do it? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b7YFtiE5EA
BF Skinner
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Background: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-d6jypCsUw
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Freedom & Morality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQwPzSsXlyw
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V Chomsky Debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo4g_S_AK-0
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Operant Conditioning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeEBq2bhIZw
Little Albert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3r3NJw2otw
Create a mini social experiment of your
own
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Create a questionnaire or poll for the other TOK class.
KI
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TWE is it legitimate for the inquirer to draw upon his/her own experiences as
evidence in his/her investigations in the human sciences (the verstehen approach)?
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TWE are personal factors such as gender and age important in the human sciences?
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Human sciences are less able to predict because humans have free will. But human
sciences nevertheless try to establish laws of human behaviour. How can this be?
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To what extent are the methods of the human sciences “scientific”?
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How can one eliminate the effect of the observer being part of the system in the
human sciences (see the Hawthorne effect in psychology or the field worker being
part of the community in anthropology)?
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In the verstehen approach, how might the emotions of the investigator as object
of study affect the result of the investigation?
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How can one rely on the results from questionnaires given the problems of
wording, leading questions, sampling and selection effects and the fact that
respondents might not either know the truth about their own intentions or indeed
tell it?
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Is the judgment of one model being more accurate than another the same as in
natural science?