Problems in the Science and Mathematics of 'The Logic of Scientific Discovery'

Alan B Whiting

doi:10.12743/quanta.v1i1.3

Abstract

Professor Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) was one of the most influential philosophers of science of the twentieth century. However, in his most famous work 'The Logic of Scientific Discovery' he displays troubling misunderstandings of science and mathematics at a basic level. These call into question his conclusions concerning the philosophy of science. Quanta 2012; 1: 13–18.

Highlights

Professor Sir Karl Popper was one of the most influential philosophers of science in the twentieth century. He is most widely known for his doctrine that scientific theories are not provable, but to be accepted as scientific they must be falsifiable
With the emphasis on falsifying as opposed to confirming; and his popularity among practicing scientists is probably due to the straightforward way this criterion rejects much pseudoscience
In no case can we state certainly that the actual value is within the limits, though we can get pretty close

Summary

Introduction

Professor Sir Karl Popper was one of the most influential philosophers of science in the twentieth century. He is most widely known for his doctrine that scientific theories are not provable, but to be accepted as scientific they must be falsifiable. E. of an (at least) unilateral or asymmetrical or one-sided decidability According to this criterion, statements, or systems of statements, convey information about the empirical world only if they are ca-. I wish to highlight certain problems with Popper’s understanding of science and mathematics in The Logic of Scientific.

The practice of science

Findings

Implications