Rationality in Popper's Philosophy of Science

In recent decades, rationality has become one of the important and controversial issues in intellectual fields. There are many philosophers who have diminished, and continue to diminish, the status of human reason and rationality. Popper is among those who believe in human reason. To demonstrate the ability of reason, he completely rejects positivism and justificatory approaches, and by designing a falsificationist philosophy of science, he affirmed and emphasized critical rationality. In the article "Popper's Philosophy of Science," Popper's rationality, along with its important and constitutive elements, is first extracted and reconstructed, and then the degree of success and consistency of Popper's positions is examined and evaluated. The main conclusion of the article is that a complete escape from the positivist and justificatory approach and the presentation of an absolutely negativist and critical epistemology is neither feasible nor possible.

.

Article Title [English]:

"Rationality" in Popper's Philosophy of Science

Abstract [English]:

In recent decades, rationality has become one of the important and controversial issues in the intellectual circles. There are many philosophers who have put (and still put) under question the status of reason and human rationality. Among those who believe in human reason is Popper. To show reason's ability, he rejects positivism and justifying approaches totally; and, designing falsificationist philosophy of science, he confirms critical rationality and attaches emphasis to it. In the present article, at first, Popper's rationality together with its important and constructive elements are inferred and reconstructed and, then, success and consistence of Popper's positions are studied and assessed. The main conclusion of the present article is that it is impossible to completely reject positivist and justifying approaches and provide an absolutely negativist and critical epistemology.

.

---

.

Download the article Rationality in Popper's Philosophy of Science

Download from Server 1 | Download from Server 2

.

---

.

Article Title: Rationality in Popper's Philosophy of Science

Source (Journal): Philosophy of Science, Year 1, Fall and Winter 2011, Issue 2

Authors: Javad Akbari Takhtameshloo, Saeed Zibakalam

.

---

.