The Logic of Scientific Discovery (Routledge Classics)
by Karl Raimund Popper
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Read in September, 2005
I volunteered to read this book in my PhD Doctoral Seminar because I thought my German language abilities would help me further understand Karl Popper.
It didn't.
Here's my review:
Grappling with underlying ideas of how science is “discovered” and the underlying problems that exist with new knowledge? Sir Karl Popper’s book, The Logic of Scientific Discovery, directly addresses these issues and additionally tackles a theme important to philosophy – epistemology or the growth of...more
It didn't.
Here's my review:
Grappling with underlying ideas of how science is “discovered” and the underlying problems that exist with new knowledge? Sir Karl Popper’s book, The Logic of Scientific Discovery, directly addresses these issues and additionally tackles a theme important to philosophy – epistemology or the growth of...more
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Read in February, 2008
This is not an easy-to-read book. I've read Popper's 'Open society and its Enemies' and that was a lot easier going. However, this is Popper's definitive work on the difference between science and non-science, and how to tell them apart. When you hear scientists refer to Popper they are referring to this book.
He also delves into the thinking behind probability theory and interestingly questions some of the fundamental assumptions there, and then goes on to apply those ideas to quantum physic...more
He also delves into the thinking behind probability theory and interestingly questions some of the fundamental assumptions there, and then goes on to apply those ideas to quantum physic...more
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Read in January, 2004
This is a great book for those interested in the Philosophy of Science but it gets a bit difficult with al of the equations. But as an admirer of science it is essential to understanding how hypotheses are formed and revised. It also is incredibly generous in its updating of maxims concerning the idol of certainty and demonstrable knowledge. With specific experiments to illustrate the point the delve into some deep quantum theory. Some of it is definitely out of my league and be forewarned a...more
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If it was 400 pages shorter, I'd give it 5 stars.
Popper makes his point quickly and emphatically on the merits of deductive reasoning versus inductive and its use in scientific research. Unfortunately, he continues to give examples to reiterate his point. Reading the first 50 pages is good enough. But, it's a good book for any and all graduate students in the scientific field to have on a bookshelf (particularly at the bench).
Popper makes his point quickly and emphatically on the merits of deductive reasoning versus inductive and its use in scientific research. Unfortunately, he continues to give examples to reiterate his point. Reading the first 50 pages is good enough. But, it's a good book for any and all graduate students in the scientific field to have on a bookshelf (particularly at the bench).
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"I define the empirical content of a statement p as the class of its potential falsifiers. The logical content is defined, with the help of the concept of derivability, as the class of all non-tautological statements which are derivable from the statement in question. So the logical content of p is at least equal to that of a statement q, if q is derivable from p."
If you liked that, you'll looooove this book!
If you liked that, you'll looooove this book!
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
science types
It's a great work of scientific philosophy although it is a bit outdated and therefore doesn't readily apply to the modern scientific approaches in data-rich fields like genomics or cosmology.
It is extremely interesting to read together with Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolution".
It is extremely interesting to read together with Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolution".
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Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
everyone interested in science and scientific discovery
What can I say... It is one of the most important philosophical works of the 20th century... That alone should give it 5 stars... Although a tough read...it is well worth it...
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