Question

Richard found mushrooms in his garden and decided to determine whether or not they were poisonous by eating several. Fortunately for Richard, they turned out to be harmless. Richard was using the ______ for acquiring knowledge.

a) Scientific method
b) Empirical observation
c) Trial and error
d) Intuition

Answer 1

Richard utilized the trial and error method by consuming mushrooms to check for toxicity, which is different from the empirical and systematic processes of the scientific method that involve observations, testing, and modifications of hypotheses.

Step-by-step explanation:

Richard was using the trial and error method for acquiring knowledge when he decided to determine whether the mushrooms in his garden were poisonous by eating several of them. This method involves attempting various solutions to a problem until a successful one is found, without the structured methodology of scientific observation, hypothesis formulation, and systematic experimentation that defines the scientific method. While trial and error can sometimes lead to discoveries, it is not a safe or recommended approach to identifying poisonous substances due to the potential for harm. It is crucial to recognize that learning through trial and error is fundamentally different from the empirical approach inherent to the scientific method, which relies on systematic empirical observation, measurement, and experimentation to test and modify hypotheses. Richard was fortunate that the mushrooms were harmless, but this approach is not a part of the disciplined practices of science.