steve_bank
Diabetic retinopathy and poor eyesight. Typos ...
I did not agree with all of it, but I ffound Popper useful.
file:///C:/Users/srank/Downloads/KARLPOPPER.pdf
file:///C:/Users/srank/Downloads/KARLPOPPER.pdf
Objective Knowledge: Karl Popper: 8601417215470: Amazon.com: Books
Objective Knowledge [Karl Popper] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Objective Knowledge
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Philosopher Karl Popper was a critic of instrumentalism, the view that scientific theories are merely useful tools for making predictions, not necessarily true representations of reality. While instrumentalism sees theory utility as the measure of success, Popper argued that science progresses through falsification, where theories are tested and rejected if they produce false predictions. He believed that theories, though never truly verified, are still abstract and represent something about reality, contrasting with instrumentalism's focus on practical utility over truth.
What is Instrumentalism?
Theories as Tools:
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Instrumentalism holds that scientific theories are like tools or instruments whose primary value lies in their effectiveness in explaining phenomena and making accurate predictions, not in their literal truth or correspondence to reality.
Focus on Prediction:
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For instrumentalists, the success of a theory is measured by its ability to generate correct predictions, rather than by any underlying factual accuracy.
Popper's Stance on Instrumentalism
Critique of Instrumentalism:
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Popper argued against instrumentalism, asserting that it was insufficient to explain the nature of scientific theories.
Reality of Theories:
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He believed that theories, while conjectural, are not just computational rules or mere instruments; they are abstract and offer insight into reality.
Falsification vs. Utility:
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Unlike instrumentalism, which emphasizes practical utility, Popper's philosophy, known as critical rationalism, prioritizes testing theories through falsification to eliminate false ones.
Pragmatic Utility is Not Truth:
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Popper maintained that a theory being useful or successful in predicting events does not make it true, a key disagreement with the instrumentalist view that utility is the ultimate measure of a theory's worth.
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