Five Key Works in Philosophy of Science You Should Read
The article presents five influential books in the philosophy of science. Karl Popper's "The Logic of Scientific Discovery" (1934) introduces falsifiability as the demarcation criterion for science. Thomas Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" (1962) argues science progresses through paradigm shifts rather than linear accumulation. Imre Lakatos' "The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes" (1978) proposes research programs with a hard core and protective belt. Helen Longino's "Science as Social Knowledge" (1990) emphasizes the social nature of scientific inquiry and the role of values. Nancy Cartwright's "How the Laws of Physics Lie" (1983) challenges the universality of physical laws, arguing they are idealized models.
Key facts
- Karl Popper's The Logic of Scientific Discovery was published in 1934.
- Popper proposed falsifiability as the criterion for distinguishing science from non-science.
- Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions was published in 1962.
- Kuhn introduced the concept of paradigm shifts in scientific progress.
- Imre Lakatos' The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes was published in 1978.
- Lakatos proposed research programs with a hard core and protective belt.
- Helen Longino's Science as Social Knowledge was published in 1990.
- Nancy Cartwright's How the Laws of Physics Lie was published in 1983.
Entities
Artists
- Karl Popper
- Thomas Kuhn
- Imre Lakatos
- Helen Longino
- Nancy Cartwright
- Paul Feyerabend
Institutions
- LSE Library
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften
- Académie Internationale de Philosophie des Sciences
Locations
- Austria
- Hungary