The Problem of Rationality in Science and its Philosophy: On Popper vs. Polanyi The Polish Conferences 1988–89: 160 (Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science, 160) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0792329252 ISBN 13: 9780792329251

Publisher: Springer, 1994

Synopsis

Rationality of science was the topic of two conferences (held in 1988 and 1989) organized by the Department of Philosophy of Science, Institute of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University. Both conferences included a small group of invited speakers. This book contains a selection of papers presented there. It is intended mainly for specialists in the philosophy of science and scientists interested in philosophy. Students and especially postgraduate students would also benefit from reading it. The first conference, 'Popper, Polanyi and the Notion of Rationality', was held from 1 to 5 October 1988 in Janowice. The second conference, 'The Aim and Rationality of Science', was held in Cracow at the Jagiellonian Univer­ sity, from 4-10 June 1989. The topics of both conferences were inspired by our late friend Dr. Tomasz Kocowski, who many years earlier invited me and my colleagues from the Department to participate in research concerning the problem of creativity, and serve him and other psychologists as methodological advisors. Personal contacts with this intelligent and inquisitive man helped us to realize that we could not fulfill our task while adhering to the received view in the philoso­ phy of science. This experience helped us to see science not only as scientific knowledge but also as a process of research. We then turned our attention to Michael Polanyi, who seemed to provide the philosophy we were looking for.

About this title

Synopsis

This text is an outcome of two conferences held in Poland in 1987 and 1990. Both conferences dealt with the problem of rationality. The first put the problem in the context of the philosophy of Popper and Polanyi; the second involved the notion of the aim of science. This book presents a comprehensive current account of the manifold approaches to the problem of rationality and related issues. Generally speaking, some authors are convinced that the standard approach to the problem of rationality is more or less correct. They try to amend this approach and/or to reply to some objections to it. Others adopt a more radical attitude and seek inspiration in more exotic regions of philosophy of science, in particular in the philosophy of Michael Polanyi. In this case not only the problem of rationality of science is addressed but also the problem of rationality of the philosophy of science itself. What makes this book interesting is the common attitude of all authors in addressing fundamental issues pertaining to the problem of rationality.

This results from the fact that both conferences were organized for a small number of participants and there was time for discussion within a friendly but demanding social environment. The book is primarily intended for researchers in the philosophy of science. It should also be valuable to other philosophers interested in current trends in philosophy of science, to scientists of various disciplines interested in philosophy, and to scientists and graduate students in the philosophy of science.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792329252
• ISBN 13: 9780792329251
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288
• Editor: Misiek J.