W. W. BARTLEY: RECONSIDERING THE PROBLEM OF DEMARCATION BETWEEN SCIENCE AND METAPHYSICS

W. W. Bartley: přehodnocení problému demarkace mezi vědou a metafyzikou

Vendula Kovářová

E-LOGOS, 2016, vol. 2016, issue 2, 10-26

Abstract: In the first half of 20th century the problem of demarcation between science and metaphysics was considered as the central issue of normative philosophy of science. W. W. Bartley convincingly demonstrates in his text from 1962 that dichotomy between science and metaphysics (non-science) is not so important because it does not provide relevant data about certain assertion (theory). Bartley shifted the question to the level of evaluation and acceptability of theories and presented his own criterion of "demarcation" between a good and a bad theory depending on the number of problems it solves. This study presents Bartley's arguments in context of popperian discussion, his critical response to the reopening of the problem of demarcation between science and pseudoscience in contemporary debates and points out at least three (Bartley, Kuhn, Laudan) denial of the problem of demarcation claimed already in the past. The conclusion of the study offers a solution in accordance with the concept of Bartley's conception of acceptability of theory.

Keywords: William W. Bartley; Karl R. Popper; Thomas S. Kuhn; demarcation; falsification; inductivism; demarkace; falzifikace; induktivismus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.18267/j.e-logos.433

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