Learning algorithms and statistical inference do not in any way supersede or invalidate the scientific method, they are products of the scientific method.

The are very interesting though, that's for sure.

the products of a thing often supersede it.

in this case, the development of inference is certainly a consequence of the development of the scientific method. but the validity of the latter is a mathematical consequence of the validity of the former. bayesian inference is more fundamental.

another good book that informs my personal views on this matter: http://www.amazon.com/Probability-Theory-Logic-Science-Vol/d...