Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Critical Rationalism in the Test Tube? Lecture given at the ’’International Summer School on the Philosophy of Chemistry and Biochemistry‘‘, Bradford & Ilkley Community College, 11. – 14. July 1994.

  • Published:
Journal for General Philosophy of Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Popper's critical rationalism is widely accepted under scientists and philosophers of science as a proper method for the reconstruction of scientific theories. On occasion of the application of the Popperian ideas for the reconstruction of chemistry by Akeroyd the flaws of the critical rationalist approach are criticised and a methodical alternative is proposed, involving the operational definition of scientific terms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Akeroyd F. M.: 1986, A challenge to the followers of Lakatos, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 37, 359–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akeroyd F.M.: 1990, The challenge to Lakatos restated, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 41, 437–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akeroyd F.M.: 1993, Laudan’s problem solving model, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 44, 335–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akeroyd F.M.: 1996, ‘Popper’s contribution to the philosophy of Chemistry’, in K. Ruthenberg, N. Psarros and J. Schummer (eds.) Philosophie der Chemie–Bestandsaufnahme und Ausblick, Königshausen und Neumann, Würzburg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourcroy A. F. de: 1796, Philosophy of Chemistry, London (English translation of the fourth French edition).

  • Hartmann D.: 1990, Konstruktive Fragelogik, BI-Wissenschaftsverlag Mannheim, Wien, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartmann D.: 1993, Naturwissenschaftliche Theorien, BI-Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim, Leipzig, Wien, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janich P.: 1973, Zweck und Methode der Physik aus philosophischer Sicht, Druckerei und Verlagsanstalt Konstanz-Universitätsverlag, Konstanz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janich P.: 1985, Protophysics of Time, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Boston, Lancaster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janich P.: 1994, ‘Protochemie’, Journal for General Philosophy of Science 25, 71–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lakatos I.: 1968, ‘Criticism and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes’, Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 69, 149–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Grand H. E.: 1977/78, ‘Genius and the dogmatization of error: The failure of C. L. Berthollet’s attack upon Lavoisier’s acid theory’, Organon 12/13, 193–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzen, P.: 1984, Normative Logic and Ethics, BI-Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim, Wien, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzen P.: 1987, Lehrbuch der konstruktiven Wissenschaftstheorie, BI-Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim, Wien, Zürich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper K. R.: 1989, Logik der Forschun, 9. Aufl., J. C. B. Mohr, Tübingen (quotations are translated from German by N. P.).

  • Psarros N.: 1995, ‘Die Elemente der Chemie: Umriß einer Prototheorie der Chemie’, in: Jelden E. (ed.), Prototheorien–Praxis und Erkenntnis?, Leipziger Universitätsverlag, Leipzig, pp. 123–133.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Nikos Psarros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Psarros, N. Critical Rationalism in the Test Tube? Lecture given at the ’’International Summer School on the Philosophy of Chemistry and Biochemistry‘‘, Bradford & Ilkley Community College, 11. – 14. July 1994.. Journal for General Philosophy of Science 28, 297–305 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008211713268

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008211713268

Search

Navigation