Sfetcu, Nicolae The distinction between falsification and refutation in the demarcation problem of Karl Popper., 2019 [Preprint]
Preview |
Text
The_distinction_between_falsification_and_refutation-Nicolae_Sfetcu-GMM.pdf Download (383kB) | Preview |
English abstract
Despite the criticism of Karl Popper's falsifiability theory for the demarcation between science and non-science, mainly pseudo-science, this criterion is still very useful, and perfectly valid after it was perfected by Popper and his followers. Moreover, even in his original version, considered by Lakatos as "dogmatic", Popper did not assert that this methodology is an absolute demarcation criterion: a single counter-example is not enough to falsify a theory; a theory can legitimately be saved from falsification by introducing an auxiliary hypothesis. Compared to Kuhn's theory of revolutions, which he himself later dissociated from it transforming it into a theory of "micro-revolutions," I consider that Popper's demarcation methodology, along with the subsequent development proposed by him, including the corroboration and the verisimilitude, though imperfect, is not only valid today, but it is still the best demarcation methodology. For argumentation, I used the main works of Popper dealing with this issue, and his main critics and supporters. After a brief presentation of Karl Popper, and an introduction to the demarcation problem and the falsification methodology, I review the main criticisms and the arguments of his supporters, emphasizing the idea that Popper has never put the sign of equality between falsification and rejection. Finally, I present my own conclusions on this issue.
Item type: | Preprint |
---|---|
Keywords: | Karl Popper, falsifiability, falsification, demarcation problem, pseudo-science |
Subjects: | B. Information use and sociology of information > BF. Information policy |
Depositing user: | Nicolae Sfetcu |
Date deposited: | 26 Aug 2023 16:07 |
Last modified: | 26 Aug 2023 16:07 |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10760/44695 |
References
Downloads
Downloads per month over past year
Actions (login required)
View Item |