an online book by David Gurteen
Sir Karl Raimund Popper (28 July 1902 – 17 September 1994) was an Austrian–British philosopher, academic and social commentator. One of the 20th century's most influential philosophers of science, Popper is known for his rejection of the classical inductivist views on the scientific method in favour of empirical falsification. According to Popper, a theory in the empirical sciences can never be proven, but it can be falsified, meaning that it can (and should) be scrutinised with decisive experiments. Popper was opposed to the classical justificationist account of knowledge, which he replaced with critical rationalism, namely "the first non-justificational philosophy of criticism in the history of philosophy".
In political discourse, he is known for his vigorous defence of liberal democracy and the principles of social criticism that he believed made a flourishing open society possible. His political thought resides within the camp of Enlightenment rationalism and humanism. He was a dogged opponent of totalitarianism, nationalism, fascism, romanticism, collectivism, and other kinds of (in Popper’s view) reactionary and irrational ideas, and identified modern liberal democracies as the best-to-date embodiment of an open society.
Credit: Wikipedia - Karl_PopperKarl Popper, the great philosopher of science, once divided the world into two categories: clocks and clouds. Clocks are neat, orderly systems that can be solved through reduction; clouds are an epistemic mess, “highly irregular, disorderly, and more or less unpredictable.” The mistake of modern science is to pretend that everything is a clock, which … Continue reading Clouds Not Clocks Jonah Lehrer
1. It is easy to obtain confirmations, or verifications, for nearly every theory–if we look for confirmations. 2. Confirmations should count only if they are the result of risky predictions; that is to say, if, unenlightened by the theory in question, we should have expected an event which was incompatible with the theory–an event which … Continue reading Science as Falsification Karl Popper
Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. — In this formulation, I do not imply, for … Continue reading The Paradox of Tolerance Karl Popper
Understanding Scientific Terms The Roots of the Scientific Method Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Science aims to uncover the truths of the natural world through careful observation and experimentation. However, it’s essential to acknowledge its limitations, as human biases and errors can influence results. Recognizing science’s fallibility leads to a more accurate and … Continue reading The Fallibility of Science Understanding the limits and strengths of science
The Fallibility of Science The Scientific Method for Everyday Life Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The scientific method has evolved to solve problems through rigorous inquiry. Facing global issues requires clear, evidence-based approaches. Historical insights into this method can help guide our complex decision-making today. The development of the scientific method—a systematic approach … Continue reading The Roots of the Scientific Method Exploring the history of the scientific method
Technical Challenges and Complex Adaptive Challenges Unintended Consequences Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Complex systems defy simplistic problem-solving. Rather than definitive solutions, we can only respond to the intricate web of interconnected elements. In a complex environment, there are no solutions, only an endless series of adaptive responses. Complex systems are characterized by … Continue reading There Are No Solutions to Complex Challenges Only an endless series of adaptive responses
Freedom of Speech Democracy’s Spectrum ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Tolerance enables peaceful coexistence among diverse populations. However, viewing tolerance as an unconditional moral imperative can be problematic. To maintain a stable society, we must recognize that tolerance has limits and requires mutual respect and adherence to social contracts. Tolerance involves recognizing … Continue reading Tolerance Is A Social Contract, Not a Moral Absolute The paradox of tolerance
