Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
28
Summary of K. R. Popper's
and T. S. Kuhn's models of
scientific development
Although scientific theories and laws of nature may never be proved
in any definite way by
induction,
as Hume had made clear, Popper
(
1969
,
1975
,
1994
) pointed out that they may be falsified on the
basis of empirical evidence and purely
deductive
reasoning, i.e. the
modus tollens deduction form of classical logic (see Popper,
1975
,
pp. 75-77). Hence, he assumed that scientific theories could be tested
by attempts to refute them, and by selecting the most successful
theories that withstood severe falsification tests, Popper believed that
science could progress ever closer to, but never reach, the ultimate
truth. The key to scientific development, therefore, according to
Popper, was not the collection of observational statements, but the
emergence of competing, falsifiable theories. Only by searching
for falsification of theories and, on this basis, selecting the most
successful ones, could science hope to learn and advance.
Popper's view of scientific progress may be summarized as
follows: progress starts when a theory is refuted or falsified. This
will create a problem for the relevant scientific community. In order
to solve the problem other falsifiable theories are proposed. These
new theories are then criticized and tested. As a result one or a few
of the theories will prove more successful than the others, i.e. they
may withstand severe falsification tests, may have greater empirical
information or content, may be logically consistent, may have greater
explanatory and predictive power, and may be more simple. Eventu-
ally, however, even the most successful theory will be falsified. When
this happens, a new serious problem has emerged which calls for the
invention of new falsifiable theories followed by renewed rational
critique and testing - and so on, indefinitely, since the ultimate truth
can only be approached but never reached.
