The Logic of Scientific DiscoveryDescribed by the philosopher A.J. Ayer as a work of 'great originality and power', this book revolutionized contemporary thinking on science and knowledge. Ideas such as the now legendary doctrine of 'falsificationism' electrified the scientific community, influencing even working scientists, as well as post-war philosophy. This astonishing work ranks alongside The Open Society and Its Enemies as one of Popper's most enduring books and contains insights and arguments that demand to be read to this day. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - lawecon - LibraryThingThis volume was intended as a response to the Logical Positivists of the Vienna Circle. In the simplest terms, the Vienna Circle and their counterparts in England believed that if one could create an ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - epeeist - LibraryThingThe book for all students of science and the philosophy of science. Read full review
Contents
On the Problem of a Theory of Scientific Method | 27 |
Some Structural Components of a Theory of Experience | 35 |
Falsifiability | 57 |
The Problem of the Empirical Basis | 74 |
Theory and Experiment | 88 |
Degrees of Testability | 95 |
Logical Ranges Notes on the Theory of Measurement | 108 |
Degrees of Testability Compared by Reference to Dimensions | 110 |
Infimte Sequences Hypothetical Estimates of Frequency | 154 |
An Exammation of the Axiom of Randomness 59 ChanceLike Sequences Objective Probability | 163 |
Go Bernoullis Problem | 164 |
6i The Law of Great Numbers Bernoullis Theorem | 168 |
Bernoullis Theorem and the Interpretation of Probability Statements | 171 |
Bernoullis Theorem and the Problem of Convergence | 173 |
Some Observaiions on Quantum Theory | 209 |
i0 Corroboraiion or How a Theory Stands up to Tests | 248 |
The Dimension of a Set of Curves 40 Two Ways of Reducmg the Number of Dimensions of a Set of Curves | 119 |
Simplicity | 121 |
4i Elimmation of the Aesthetic and the Pragmatic Concepts of Simplicity | 122 |
The Methodalogical Problem of Simplicity 43 Simplicity and Degree of Falsifiability | 126 |
Geometrical Shape and Functional Form | 128 |
The Simplicity of Euclidean Geometry | 129 |
Conventionalism and the Concept of Simplicity | 130 |
Probability | 133 |
The Problem of Interpretmg Probability Statements 48 Subjective and Objective Interpretations | 135 |
The Fundamental Problem of the Theory of Chance | 138 |
The Frequency Theory of von Mises | 139 |
5t Plan for a New Theory of Probability | 141 |
Relative Frequency withm a Fmite Class 53 Selection Independence Insensitiveness Irrelevance | 145 |
Fmite Sequences Ordmal Selection and Neighbourhood Selection | 147 |
nFreedom m Fimte Sequences 56 Sequences of Segments The First Form of the Binomial Formula | 152 |
APPENDICES | 281 |
Formula | 290 |
Examinaiion of an Objection The TwoSlit | 297 |
Remarks Concermng an Imaginary Experiment | 305 |
i Two Notes on Induction and Demarcaiion | 312 |
li A Note on Probability i938 | 319 |
ili On the Heuristic Use of the Classical Definition | 325 |
vi On Objective Disorder or Randomness | 369 |
vili Content Simplicity and Dimension | 392 |
Staiistical Tests | 402 |
x Universals Dispositions and Naiural | 440 |
xi On the Use and Misuse of Imaginary | 464 |
xli The Experiment of Einstein Podolsky and Rosen | 481 |
| 489 | |
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Common terms and phrases
2ero accepted appendix argument assert assume assumption atomic atomic statements basic statements believe Bernoulli's theorem binomial formula Boolean called Carnap chance-like characteri2ation concept contradict criterion of demarcation deduced defined definition degree of confirmation degree of corroboration degree of falsifiability derived diat discussed dtis Einstein elements empirical science epistemology example fact finite foomote formula frequency theory generali2ation given Heisenberg hypothesis idea imaginary experiment induction inductivist infinite initial conditions interpretation knowledge liglu litde logical probability mathematical means measure ments metaphysical method methodological miglu momentum n-tuple natural laws objective observations obtain occur particle philosophy physical pmbability position possible Postscript postulate precision predictions principle prob probability statements probability theory problem problem of induction protocol sentences quantum theory question refuted regard relative frequencies result rule satisfied scientific segments sense sequence simplicity singular existential statement singular statements statistical stricdy sufficiendy tautology testable tests thai tion universal statements
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Logic of Scientific Discovery Classics Series Issue 117 of ISSR library Routledge classics |
| Author | Karl Raimund Popper |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Psychology Press, 2002 |
| ISBN | 0415278449, 9780415278447 |
| Length | 513 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / Logic Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |