The Optimum Aim for Science in John Watkins's Philosophy of Science

Subject Areas : Epistemological researches

Naser Afzalifar ¹ , Ali Haghi ²

1 - Ph.D Candidate for philosophy of science, faculty of law, theology and political sciences, sciences and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate of professor, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Dr.Ali Shariati Faculty of Letter and Humanities

Received: 2020-01-21 Accepted : 2020-03-17 Published : 2021-01-20

Keywords: Watkins, The aim of science, Critical Rationality, Scientific rationality, Irrationalism,

Abstract :

The pride of the scientific community from the earliest times, has repeatedly been mentioned about their research and their results because of their rationality. But why does the scientific community insist on claiming the rationality of its research? Does this insist on their research method? Or is there any significant advancement in science and technology and the problems of humanity and its justification?Scientific rationality is constructed from a set of conditions, claims, methods, and research purposes of the scientific community, which explains the nature and structure of scientific advances; as Newton-Smith states: "Each scientific rational model must at least two things Logically and substantiated; one is the goal of science and the other is the set of principles that we need to evaluate competing theories (Newton-Smith, 1981: 4)In this paper, we aim to provide an emphasis on scientific rationality by evaluating the science of science in John Watkins's philosophy of science, and providing an equitable basis for scientific excellence and providing the necessary conditions for achieving the optimal aim of science and the methods of selecting competing theories in John Watkins's philosophy of science Evaluated.

References:

Bentham, J. (1891). A Fragment on Government. F. C. Montagne (ed), Oxford, University Press.

Bacon, F. (1620). The Work of Francis Bacon. London, Longman.

Duhem, P. (1906). The Aim and Stucture of Physical Theory. Princton, Univesity Press.

Duhem, P. (1908). An Essay on the Idea of Physical Theory from Plato to Galileo. Chicago, University Press.

Kant, I. (1781). Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason. London, Macmillan.

Lakatos, I. (1976). The Methodology of Scientific Reserch Programmes. Cambridge, University Press. Philosophical Papers, Vol 1.

Lakatos, I. (1968). Problems in the Philosophy of Science. Amsterdam, North Holland.

Leibniz, G. W. (1956). Letter to Herman Conring. 19 March 1977, in Loemker (ed), pp. 284-293.

Mach, E. (1872). History and Root of the Principle of Conservation of Energy. Chicago, Open Court.

Newton-Smith, W. H. (1981). The Rationality of Science. London, routeldge & kegan paul.

Oakeshott, M. (1962). Rationalism in Politics. London, Methuen.

Popper, K. R. (1974). Replies to My Critics. in Schilpp (ed), pp. 961-1197.

Van Fraassen, B. C. (1980). The Scientific Image. Oxford, Clarendon Press.

Watkins, John W. N. (1984). Science and Scepticism. Prinston, University Press.