Topic 3 - Popper: how science grows

Rejects positivist view that distinctive feature of science lies in inductive reasoning + verificationism - main reason why we should reject verificationism is 'fallacy of induction'. Induction is process of moving from observation of particular instances of something to arrive at general statement/law.  

Swans - should find 1 black swan to falsify it theory.

What makes science unique form of knowledge - falsificationism. Scientific statement in one that can be falsified - proved wrong. For Popper, good theory has 2 features:
 - falsifiable when tested, stands up to all attempts to disprove it
 - bold - claims to explain a great deal.

All knowledge provisional, temp, capable of refutation at any moment - can never be absolute proof any knowledge is true.

Good theory isn't necessarily truth - one that has withstood attempts to falsify it.

For theory to be falsifiable, must be open to criticism. Science essentially public acticity, sees scientific community as hothouse environment, everything open to criticism, flaws in theory can be readily exposed, better theories developed. P believes this explains why scientific knowledge grows so rapidly.

Science thrives in 'open' society - believes in free expression + right to challenge accepted ideas.

P believes much sociology unscientific b/c consists of theories that can't be put to test w/ poss they might be falsified - eg Marxism predicts there'll be a revolution leading to classless society, but hasn't happened b/c of false consciousness of proletariat - prediction can't be falsified.

Socio can be scientific b/c capable of producing hypotheses that can be falsified.