Karl Popper
Karl Popper
Sir Karl Raimund Popper CH FBA FRSwas an Austrian-British philosopher and professor. He is generally regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of science of the 20th century...
NationalityAustrian
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth28 July 1902
CountryAustria
analysis logical stage
The initial stage, the act of conceiving or inventing a theory, seems to me neither to call for logical analysis nor to be susceptible of it.
world may subjectivity
It is clear that everybody interested in science must be interested in world 3 objects. A physical scientist, to start with, may be interested mainly in world 1 objects--say crystals and X-rays. But very soon he must realize how much depends on our interpretation of the facts, that is, on our theories, and so on world 3 objects. Similarly, a historian of science, or a philosopher interested in science must be largely a student of world 3 objects.
may scientist metaphysical
There will be well-testable theories, hardly testable theories, and non-testable theories. Those which are non-testable are of no interest to empirical scientists. They may be described as metaphysical.
mean science judgement
Science is the century-old endeavour to bring together by means of systematic thought the perceptible phenomena of this world into as thorough-going an association as possible. To put it boldly, it is the attempt at a posterior reconstruction of existence by the process of conceptualization. Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value judgements of all kinds remain necessary.
truth mistake knowledge
It is part of my thesis that all our knowledge grows only through the correcting of our mistakes.
technology engineering social
Piecemeal social engineering resembles physical engineering in regarding the ends as beyond the province of technology.
believe tolerance deeds
I have insisted that we must be tolerant. But I also believe that this tolerance has its limits. We must not trust those anti-humanitarian religions which not only preach destruction but act accordingly. For if we tolerate them, then we become ourselves responsible for for their deeds.
tolerance tolerate prepared
If we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.
art improvement theory
Contrary to the outstanding work of art, outstanding theory is susceptible to improvements.
discovery creative intuition
Every discovery contains an irrational element or a creative intuition.
trying democracy compromise
The defence of democracy must consist in making anti-democratic experiences too costly for those who try them; much more costly than a democratic compromise
tests information way
The only way to test a hypothesis is to look for all the information that disagrees with it.
theory myth scientific-theory
Historically speaking all - or very nearly all - scientific theories originate from myths.
idols objectivity demand
The old scientific ideal of episteme - of absolutely certain, demonstrable knowledge - has proved to be an idol. The demand for scientific objectivity makes it inevitable that every scientific statement must remain tentative for ever.