Feyerabend and Lakatos

Question 1

Explain Paul Feyerabend’s epistemology.

Answer 1

With Feyerabend, philosophy returned to the previous debate of sources of knowledge. Feyerabend was against the monopoly of the scientific method as the only source of knowledge.
1. Against method.
2. Anything goes: epistemological anarchism.
This leads to the reality of a sea of alternative facts.

Question 2

Explain the three forms of falsificationism Lakatos distinguishes.

Answer 2

1. Dogmatic falsificationism: scientific theories are fallible, but the empirical basis in infallible.
2. Methodological falsificationism: Popper; falsification means that the theory conflicts with the background theory.
3. Sophisticated falsificationism: Lakatos; theory vs theory vs empirical basis

Question 3

How did Lakatos see scientific change?

Answer 3

Scientists work with research programs, rather than paradigms.
1. Scientists work with whole theories.
2. One wants to stick to the hard core of the research program.
Research programs are comparable and can co-exist.

Question 4

Explain the use of heuristics to separate research programs.

Answer 4

We can distinguish research programs through positive and negative heuristics. Positive heuristics tell you what you are allowed to do; you are allowed to falsify the outside of the research program, not the hard core. Negative heuristics tell you what you are not allowed to do. You are not allowed to reject the hard core of the research program.

Question 5

Explain Lakatos’ demarcation criterion.

Answer 5

1. Falsifiability.
2. Work with research programs.
3. Progressive research programs only.
4. Reject degenerative research programs.