Abstract
This article gives an ephemeral overview of the most influential views on the nature and process of change in science. Theory change in science is one of the most important issues in philosophy of science. Scientific theories are subject to change beyond space and time. There are various factors that lead theories change such as discomfort among the theories. In this paper, discussing how the rationality of science was related with its methods and methodologies, I tried to show that it was after Kuhn’s work the Structure of Scientific Revolutions that the debate on theory choice becomes a central issue in philosophy of science. Following this the process in theory change in science can be deductive and inductive or rational and non-rational. According to the account of Kuhn’s scientific change there are four steps in the process of scientific change; the predominant one is normal science, anomalies, crisis and finally a new phase of normal science. Then I discussed some of the philosophers who criticize Kuhn’s work Structure of Scientific Revolutions, particularly popper’s criticism on Kuhn; in this regard I also forwarded Kuhn’s response for his critics. Finally I critically compared Kuhn’s and Popper’s ideas on the evolution of science.
Highlights
The history of science shows us that the already accepted scientific theories has been criticized, challenged and eventually become old scientific theories when they are replaced by the new ones
The rationality of science was related with its methods and methodologies, which mean that theory change in science, may be rational or irrational process based on method that used to approve the new theory and let down the old one
Because this work presented a radically different way of thinking about scientific methodology and knowledge, and it changed the practice of history of science. In this regard Kuhn argued that many scientists' accounts of the history of their subject considerably simplify and distort the real stories of theory development and change [7]
Summary
The history of science shows us that the already accepted scientific theories has been criticized, challenged and eventually become old scientific theories when they are replaced by the new ones. Kuhn's, idea of scientific theory change challenged by Imre Lakatos and in this regard Lakatos says Popper's scientific change or theory choice, the replacement of old theory with the new one is rational and it depends on logic of discovery Through this regard Aristotle disclosed the rules of correct thinking were essential for the effective mastery of all sorts of knowledge. Whereas Kuhn’s theory choice -paradigm shift from old to the new one is irrational, and primarily not based on rules of reason but within the realm of social or psychology of discovery These debates on the rationality of science in theory change become central issues in philosophy of science
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