Ok, maybe we're overthinking this. I've been thinking about it, researching the history of science and the scientific method, and it occurred to me, if I recall correctly, that tanru have broadly encompassing definitions (e.g. saske tadji = any kind of method used to get lore/science), but lujvo only refer to one specific one, which I assume to be either the most common, or just arbitrary. If that is the case, then if we assign a word to be defined as the "the scientific method", possibly expanded to include a definition from a dictionary or something, then that's what it is, so we can pick whatever we want. Like was already said, if more than one is possible, let common usage decide. After all, "science" comes from "scientia" which is just "knowledge", so the "scientific method" is simply a "method of knowledge". It is certainly not the only one, but the term does refer to one specific method, because it was arbitrarily defined as so, and accepted by common usage.
So unless I am corrected, I'm thinking that what I'd go for here is something that follows that tradition: "method of knowledge". My first try at that came up with "selju'otadji", but I think "tersaske" is easier to say, and is close enough. I can go enter that into jbovlaste if I'm not corrected on anything.
I tried asking about this in lojban Beginners first in case it has already been settled, but apparently not. I tried searching this group, and while one thread came close, it didn't answer my question.So my question is this: How do we say "the scientific method" in lojban? As in: "I used science (as opposed to some other form of epistemology) to (e.g. determine this conclusion/whatever)." "saske" obviously doesn't cut it. I'm posting this here hoping others can come up with a solution. Aside from the fact I'd like to have this word to use, it just seems odd to me that the "logical language" would leave science out in the cold like this. Can anyone help?