In the philosophy of science, Karl Popper denotes to be an iconic figure, and he presented the conjecture and refutation scientific method. His views are based on testing and falsifiability of a given theory and conjecture. Conjecture and refutation with falsifiability are the underlining criterion of a scientific theory. From the system of epistemic valuation, science is a source of objective facts, and the non-epistemic values continue to influence judgment.
Popper system of epistemic valuation is used by scientists in formulating hypothesis which addresses a wider scope in the specified field in the scientific research. This notion helps to avoid the occurrence of key problems arising from pure inductivism (Gattei 21). Furthermore, the hypotheses set a situation which approaches a description of a model and science of a correct scientific model. The evaluation is used by scientists to understand the process of testing and falsifying of a claim. According to Popper, this has to be backed by observations that attest to the theory under investigation. Furthermore, if the experiment produces results that favor conjecture, then science allude that Popper's scientific method of evaluation is deemed to be corroborated. However, if the results are contrary to the underlying theoretical assumptions of conjecture, the claim has to be falsified and hence abandoned to favor the establishments of a new theory.
The evaluation is also used to tell the difference between science and pseudo-science which lies in the unfalsifiability of claims (Popper 7). A theory is falsified when possible scenarios are showcasing that the given theory fails in accordance with what it predicts and the possible cases have to be observed. Poppers’ evaluation is also used in the modification of theories. Popper's essential approach to falsification is used in science to give a broader scope for refuting a theory basing on the specified predictions. The concept of “complete refutation and abandonment of a falsified theory in favor of a new” is employed in sconce to offer a more refined theory and thus advance the scientific field (Popper 65). Notably, the broader sense of science is a systematic quest for knowledge, and this could be used in emphasizing the hypothetico-deductive character of science (Gattei 34). Here, the scientific theories are hypothesized, and thus the statement gets tested. Indeed, testability is falsifiability enables science to be a continual process where empirical and induction method plays a critical role.
In science, the daily working of scientific endeavor should be apparent and allow for the revolution of theory which science relies on advancement leading to scientific discovery. In Khuns view, science is used to draw a more practical view of the scientific work. Kuhn's paradigm “approach allows for the practice of normal science” (Kuhn 359). The scientific framework has to encompass theories and rules that govern the scientific states which exist at the time. This should aim at correcting scientific methods and sufficiently propel revolution and advancement (Kuhn 358). If the truth was to be the sole goal of science, then the science will not be well served by choosing theories which are trivially true. Science should aim at informing the truth and support evidence.
Non-Epistemic Values
Non-epistemic values have a rational role in various spheres of scientific epistemic evaluation, reasoning, and choice of research projects. Hence, non-epistemic values are used in making judgments and hence they denote to be key in the construction and choice of models in the field of science. Moreover, they depict to be significant when epistemic values cannot explain certain situations. Notably, the non-epistemic values tend to be important when engineers seek ways of developing the best model of a problem. Nonepistemic values are vital in making judgments on issues like reliability, safety, economic prosperity, and sustainability. They also influence the choice of represented properties and also the thresholds used in models (Elliott et al., 6). The quality of human cognitive performance in the scientific inquiry has to allude to reliability and knowledge. Furthermore, non-epistemic values help scientists to understand how scientists can sensibly prioritize non-epistemic issues over epistemic ones. For this reason, scientists are able to purpose what fits the world. Simply put, non-epistemic values are key in assessing scientific model, hypothesis, and theories which are key to accepting or refuting the underlining claims.
Works Cited
Elliott, Kevin C., and Daniel J. McKaughan. "Nonepistemic Values and the Multiple Goals of Science." Philosophy of Science, vol 81, no. 1, 2014, pp. 1-21. University Of Chicago Press, doi: 10.1086/674345.
Gattei, Stefano. Karl Popper's Philosophy of Science. Abingdon, Routledge, 2010.
Kuhn. S. Thomas. Objective, value judgement and theory of choice. 1973. https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/kk3n/philsciclass/kuhn.pdf. Accessed on January 26, 2018.
Popper, Karl R. Conjectures and Refutations. The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. Psychology Press, 2002
