Science and Values: The Aims of Science and Their Role in Scientific Debate (Pittsburgh Series in Philosophy and History of Science)

by Larry Laudan

Laudan constructs a fresh approach to a longtime problem for the philosopher of how to explain the simultaneous and widespread presence of both agreement and disagreement in science. Laudan critiques the logical empiricists and the post-positivists as he stresses the need for centrality and values and the interdependence of values, methods, and facts as prerequisites to solving the problems of consensus and dissent in science.

Genres: Philosophy, Science

165 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Larry Laudan was an American philosopher of science and epistemologist. He strongly criticized the traditions of positivism, realism, and relativism, and he defended a view of science as a privileged and progressive institution against popular challenges.

Reviews

[Matilde]

Puntuale e dettagliato. E' preferibile leggerlo accoppiato all'opera "La Struttura delle Rivoluzioni Scientifiche" di Kuhn, visto che buona parte del saggio si sviluppa prendendo le tesi kuhniane come appiglio per sviluppare la propria teoria e criticare quella dell'avversario.