Karl Popper emerged as one of the most influential theorists and leading philosophers, commanding international audiences with his intellectual rigor. His work navigated a vast landscape of philosophical problems, spanning political theory, scientific method, and evolutionary thought. Popper notably challenged established orthodoxies such as logical positivism and Marxism, arguing that scientific theories are ultimately refutable rather than verifiable. He championed a critical ethos, emphasizing the acceptance of our ignorance and the vital importance of open debate in the pursuit of truth.
This groundbreaking work by philosopher K. R. Popper challenges conventional wisdom about the nature of society and the role of government. Drawing on history, philosophy, and political theory, Popper argues for the importance of individual freedom and open debate in creating a just and prosperous society.
Karl Popper presents critical rationalism as a foundational approach to science and rationality, emphasizing it as both a theory of knowledge and a guiding principle for human life, morals, and democracy. This collection showcases his significant contributions, challenging prevailing intellectual trends and advocating for a more thoughtful and questioning stance toward understanding and engaging with the world.
An Argument for Indeterminism From the Postscript to The Logic of Scientific Discovery
Focusing on the philosophy of physics, this volume presents Karl Popper's critical examination of subjectivist approaches to the philosophy of science. It serves as a culmination of his ideas, elaborating on the nature of scientific discovery and emphasizing an objective framework. The work challenges established notions and contributes significantly to the discourse on scientific methodology, making it a pivotal read for those interested in the philosophy of science.
From the PostScript to the Logic of Scientific Discovery
Focusing on the philosophy of physics, this volume of Karl Popper's Postscript critiques subjectivist approaches to science. It represents the culmination of his thoughts on realism and aims to redefine the relationship between scientific theories and reality. Through rigorous analysis, Popper challenges established notions, making significant contributions to the philosophy of science.
From the PostScript to the Logic of Scientific Discovery
Focusing on the philosophy of physics, this volume presents Karl Popper's critique of subjectivist approaches in the field. It serves as a culmination of his thoughts and arguments, emphasizing the significance of objective scientific inquiry. As part of a larger work, it explores the implications of quantum theory and its impact on the understanding of scientific discovery, making it a crucial text for those interested in the intersection of philosophy and physics.
With Two Talks on Freedom and the Democratic State
The book features interviews with philosopher Karl Popper, conducted by Italian journalist Giancarlo Bosetti, highlighting Popper's conviction that philosophers must engage in political discourse. It emphasizes the importance of active participation in societal issues and serves as a cautionary message against complacency in contemporary times.
In this long-awaited volume, Jeremy Shearmur collects the most important writings Popper made in the years after The Open Society was first published. Many are published here for the first time.
In a letter of 1932, Karl Popper described Die beiden Grundprobleme der Erkenntnistheorie – The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledge– as ‘…a child of crises, above all of …the crisis of physics.’ Finally available in English, it is a major contribution to the philosophy of science, epistemology and twentieth century philosophy generally. The two fundamental problems of knowledge that lie at the centre of the book are the problem of induction, that although we are able to observe only a limited number of particular events, science nevertheless advances unrestricted universal statements; and the problem of demarcation, which asks for a separating line between empirical science and non-science. Popper seeks to solve these two basic problems with his celebrated theory of falsifiability, arguing that the inferences made in science are not inductive but deductive; science does not start with observations and proceed to generalise them but with problems, which it attacks with bold conjectures. The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledgeis essential reading for anyone interested in Karl Popper, in the history and philosophy of science, and in the methods and theories of science itself.
Popper was born in 1902 to a Viennese family of Jewish origin. He taught in Austria until 1937, when he emigrated to New Zealand in anticipation of the Nazi annexation of Austria the following year, and he settled in England in 1949. Before the annexation, Popper had written mainly about the philosophy of science, but from 1938 until the end of the Second World War he focused his energies on political philosophy, seeking to diagnose the intellectual origins of German and Soviet totalitarianism. The Open Society and Its Enemies was the result. In the book, Popper condemned Plato, Marx, and Hegel as "holists" and "historicists"--a holist, according to Popper, believes that individuals are formed entirely by their social groups; historicists believe that social groups evolve according to internal principles that it is the intellectual's task to uncover. Popper, by contrast, held that social affairs are unpredictable, and argued vehemently against social engineering. He also sought to shift the focus of political philosophy away from questions about who ought to rule toward questions about how to minimize the damage done by the powerful. The book was an immediate sensation, and--though it has long been criticized for its portrayals of Plato, Marx, and Hegel--it has remained a landmark on the left and right alike for its defense of freedom and the spirit of critical inquiry.
