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The Infinite Monkey Cage

What Makes Science a Science?

The Infinite Monkey Cage

BBC

Comedy, Science

4.79.4K Ratings

🗓️ 15 July 2013

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What Makes a Science a Science?

Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by "Bad Science" author Ben Goldacre, neuroscientist Sophie Scott and broadcaster Evan Davis to ask what makes a science, a science. They'll be asking whether the scientific method can be applied to topics such as history and politics, and whether subjects like economics and social sciences qualify as science at all.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a download from the BBC.

0:02.1

To find out more, visit bbc.co.uk-radio4.

0:08.2

On my left, a man who was hotly tipped to be the new Doctor Who

0:11.9

with a few people of course realizing what a disaster that would be.

0:14.8

When you first see Scarrow, it seems like a rocky outcrop plagued by war.

0:19.4

But the beauty of the dead sky is wonderful.

0:22.2

Look at this dialic here. Oh dear, I seem to...

0:25.0

We'll have to regenerate again.

0:27.7

It's Professor Brian Cox.

0:29.6

And on my right, a man who recently visited the hypnotist

0:32.4

to be regressed and discovered that in a previous life,

0:35.1

he'd been a loose collection of mud, puddles, a dead-starling, a cardigan,

0:40.1

and a crumple copy of New Statesman,

0:43.2

which our necessary and sufficient elements required to build a Robinance.

0:47.6

Now this week, we're going to be asking what makes a science a science?

0:52.4

Careful observation and the application of common sense. Good night.

0:57.2

No, to be fair, we aren't going to try and deal as much as possible.

0:59.9

I mean, for instance, Brian, if you're really honest,

1:01.6

you know, what really is the difference between, say, astronomy and astrology?

1:05.6

Really.

1:09.2

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.

1:12.8

Name Sherry Brian.

...

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