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Karl Poper vs Thomas Kuhn

Science can be defined as knowledge and theory on the nature and operation the universe and all things in it, in which facts are organized into a systematic and meaningful pattern developed as a result of experiments, observations, tests and many other methods it uses. The relationship between philosophy and science is that science is the way that how the humans organize their knowledge. At that point these two intersects. Karl Popper and Thomas Kuhn are two philosophers that are discussed in this essay. The main question of that discussion is whether there is scientific progress or not. Karl Popper’s answer is yes, while Thomas Kuhn’s is no (for overall). This two opposing sides will be examined in detail in the essay. Scientific realists versus anti-realists, theory of Karl Popper, theory of Thomas Kuhn and a counter claim that comes against Thomas Kuhn is discussed respectively in the paper.

In order to explain, judge about the given quotation better, and understand Karl Popper’s and Thomas Kuhn’s views and comparing those two; the definitions of ‘scientific realism’ and ‘anti-realism’ should be clarified. Scientific realism is a view that reflects the truth and helps humans living on the

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Furthermore, according to realism, science displays a process of discovery which means scientists deal with the things that already exist and one can discover those existing things that have not been realized before. It tells the speed of light and its relations with m and c. To Kuhn, science is made up of paradigms (instead of smooth developments), and scientific communities gathers around those paradigms. Deduction gives him the opportunity to start from the universal and go through the specific and the singular event or result.

Karl Popper’s method is deductive. These two terms are the falsification criteria. Then it can be said that he does not reject this statement at all. Paradigm, according to Kuhn can be defined as a set of ideas and worldviews. He denies the progress and claims that science has breaks, which opposes the continuity idea of realists and Popper.

One shortcoming for the Popper’s view is that when the previous theory that is falsified is replaced by the latter and the better one, the first one is abolished according to Popper. Another difference between those two philosophers is that; while Popper defends the neutral language that is common, Kuhn defends there are different worldviews that makes that neutral language impossible and subjective. They also claim that this is because there is no single truth. According to Popper, as the Newton’s theory is better and more universal, and contains more information. The theory is used, and if it is falsified, then the new theory is build.

Approximate Word count = 1746
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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