Philosophy of research - Part 03

Evolution of theories on scientific method from Bacon to present day through Popper. Kuhn and Fayerabend and contrast western scientific theories with theory- less Bududahama.

Scientific theories developed based on induction. When considering to the evolution of theories on scientific method from Bacon to present day through Popper there are some areas they have focused such as induction, falsification and deduction. 

Following descriptions are taken from the Chalmers, 2012, book.

Induction is the process of deriving theories from observable facts. It involves first establishing facts and further deriving knowledge based on these facts. Then building a theory to fit them.

Falsification is the process of illuminating theories. it presupposes that theories can be established as true or probably true in the light of observational evidence based on exploratory and tentative assumptions. Hence, it deals with illumination of theories that fail to stand up to observational and experimental tests and replacing them by further experiments and assumptions. 

Deduction is the process of providing prediction and explanations based on the already developed laws and theories.

Therefore, all these models are being discussed during the evolution of theories on scientific method from Bacon to present day through Popper. 

Francis bacon is a great philosopher who describe the scientific reasoning. He mostly believes Aristotle’s work. But he said that there are some things to be improved. He did not explain the universe using only the science but also with the induction based philosophy. Aristotle believes more on induction and that is mainly based on the observations and based on existing theories and laws the predictions done.

Another aspects that the bacon explained was that the philosophy science should be an experimental science and it should be the basis of induction. He thought of validity of real world observations, with induction to generalize findings. Then the Galileo developed bacon’s ideas. His emphasis is on empiricism and rationalist thinking. Chalmers book explains about the Newtonian’s ideas as science begins with analysis based on observations and experiments and the need to conclude the findings of the scientific process. 

Karl popper is the key person in the process of evolution of science. He is a falsificationist and he was telling that hypothesis should be falsifiable. In the same way if the science is always prove and not falsify it is not the science. He mentioned that any theory should be falsify. He mentioned that if astrology cannot be falsify it is not a science. 

Kuhn has given a major contribution towards the revolution of science through paradigms and paradigm shift. He mentioned that can shift from one paradigm to another paradigm and that is called paradigm shift. He considered the paradigm as a theory, background. Fayerabend is another philosopher and his theory is against Kuhn’s theory. He mentioned that the knowledge is relative. No absolute knowledge. as well as there is no scientific method like thing. All are based on whether we believe it or not. Theories are created within several paradigms. Finally he mentioned that the knowledge is constructed not discovered and the knowledge is relative to culture, sense organs and mind. 

When considering to Buddhism, it is theory less and Buddha said to release everything knowledge even. Therefore, it is somewhat relate with the Fayerabend’s explanations. There are many things in the Buddhism are relate with the scientific findings. Although the lord Buddha said those days they are suitable or relevant with the findings of the western philosophers.

References

Chalmers, A.F (1999), What is this thing called science?. 3 uppl. Buckingham: Open University Press. (266 s)

http://www.compasnet.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ARNS/arns_05.pdf

https://explorable.com/history-of-the-philosophy-of-science

Kuhn, Thomas S (1996), The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (212 s)

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Philosophy of research - Part 01

Philosophy of research - Part 02
Philosophy of research - Part 03

This article series ends here.