Lecture 1 LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Part 1: Science and other Forms of Knowledge

 What is science?

 Why quest for science?

* common sense - the base of

human understanding on the:
* natural world
* natural phenomena
* elements of nature

 The the objects of scientific

inquiry is the natural world.

 Other concerns are on the

knowledge that people hold.
Sources and Forms of Knowledge

Commonsense Knowledge
* experiential
* based stimulus-response
* from individual’s intuitions
* observations of phenomena
* fundamentals that drive human
knowledge from
curiosity
* subjective Mysticism

Failures to explain the natural world knowledge from

leads to the development of other Rationalism
forms of knowledge

Rational Knowledge knowledge

from Empiricism
Scientific Knowledge

Local Knowledge
Human Driving Curiosity and
Empirical Knowledge
 commonsense knowledge
 human driving curiosity
 Object or subject of interests
(exists, tangible, observable,
measurable, probable, specific)
 Problems and concerns:
consider: relevance, significance,
contribution / benefits,
 Investigates and find answers
or explanations on questions:
what, how, and why
Requires ethical considerations
Scientific Inquiry requires:
1. identify topic of interests & context
2. do reviews on previous and related
studies ( find concepts, theories,
methods and results)
3. formulate / define the research
problems or questions (set limits)
4. build theoretical framework or
bridging theoretical arguments
5. develop, plan, define methods
and strategies (appropriate to…
and determine the limitations
6. gather the data
7. process data: sort, classify, group
8. analyze data and present findings
and or conclusions
9. public presentations, conferences
10 publications
 Knowledge Dichotomy

Other forms of knowledge

Indigenous, traditional Local and or community

and folk knowledge Knowledge

Rational and Philosophical

versus

Scientific knowledge

Reconsiderations: Reconciling Knowledges