The alleged demise of science: a critical inquest

Abstract

Examines the alleged demise of science in terms of claimed difficulties including: the human limitations of scientists, that science seeks ultimate reality and universal truth, oversimplifies complexity, and accepts no standard external to itself. Also considers incommensurability, the theory ladeness issue, and the assumption of orderliness. Overall, there is little discussion of epistemological issues in the sense of exploring pros and cons, while the resurrection of positivism and its equation with science and “big tent” thinking that confers legitimacy on every interest group’s position regardless of its cogency, further degrades discourse. The naturalistic‐pragmatist perspective presented as an alternative sees scientific inquiry as an open, growing, fallible activity that has proven far superior to other methods of problem solving. Inquiry is also taken to be central to principled moral choice and to efforts aimed at improving people’s lives.

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