The nineteenth century was the time when there was a bright development of the philosophy of positivism.In the early 20th century, in the early 1900s, it was formed by the so-called Vienna Circle of scientists who believed the ideal of exact sciences, they are critical of the humanities, although many of them were themselves humanists.Among the members of the Vienna Circle was particularly significant Karl Popper.His discoveries were very important.Popper's criterion is used not only in science but also in judicial practice.
Professor angry?
Herr Popper was a teacher very tough character.He could expel a student with a lecture for the slightest disagreement or a silly question.However, those wishing to listen to him was always very much.For Popper philosophy concerned prohibitively critical, he urged students to think independently, but express their opinion on his lectures was a risky business.Especially if some student asked whether it is possible to apply the principle of falsifiability to the principle of falsifiability.Suffice to say it was a simple tautological expression to the teacher's eyes were bloodshot.What is the principle of Popper?
Science has properties
To read the statement, a hypothesis or a scientific theory, it is necessary that it is in principle possible to refute.Popper's criterion says that there is a rebuttable inseparable feature of scientific knowledge.If something can not be refuted, then it and it proves impossible.There is a requirement to ensure that the wording was sufficiently clear, in other terms, the hypothesis or theory lose rebuttable.If it is impossible to deny knowledge considered, the support simply doing pseudoscience.
falsity unproven
criterion Popper says that the knowledge of not having a rebuttable not necessarily be false.Many metaphysical principles, for example, are not false, they simply unscientific - that is impossible to prove their authenticity.We just do not know, and in principle can not know.What knowledge criterion Popper automatically makes pseudoscience?
particularly suspect in this regard to the so-called esoteric knowledge.They are usually very widely formulated, if desired, each person can try to find confirmation.Most esoteric principles can not be checked, so knowledge of this kind must be regarded as a product of human idleness created for leisure.But do not treat them too seriously.
Arkansas case
As mentioned, Popper's criterion was used in court practice.As a result of the case on the teaching of creationism in schools it has been proven that this doctrine can not be considered as part of the natural sciences, and should take place in the course of religion, since this kind of knowledge is not provable and irrefutable.After this incident, in 1982, the principle was to be used in the future, if you will decide whether scientific or unscientific, although the litigation of this kind - a rarity even among Americans who love to sue.
So Karl Popper laid the foundations of modern scientific understanding.That he was able to articulate what for a man of our times it seems obvious.However, not so obvious, if we recall the popularity of esotericism ...
