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This essay aims to clarify and alliterate the differences in the arguments and theories of the alternating scientific procedures expressed by the empiricist philosophers Hume and Popper. ...
Finally, I offer my own humble opinions and answer the above question after talking in depth about the topic of this essay.
To illuminate the essay question:
Does falsification provide an answer to the problems of induction?
Hume, David (1711 – 1776)
Hume was the main philosopher to start a controversy regarding the validity of the origination of all general scientific knowledge. His arguments against the use of various methods were answered and developed by Popper, which were then superseded by Kuhn and the Austrian born Feyerabend.
Hume recognized the weakness of using the method of scientific induction as a source of knowledge. ...
It is through this lack of proof that Hume pointed out that all scientific finding based upon observation must be temporary and conjectural; i. ...
Hume goes on to point out that the use of the method of induction does not result in certain facts. ...
Another instance where the problem of induction is shown up by Hume is the theory of causation, that all events have causes. ... This machine will not function because somebody has tampered with it. ...
Hume argues that causation is only based on belief originating from human intuition or induction, having no logical reasoning or certainty backing the theory.
Another inductive weakness Hume talks about is the fact that it is not at all possible to prove human moral beliefs. ...
Hume’s arguments against induction may be theoretically acceptable, but human existence without them would be deigned impossible. ...
Popper, Sir Karl (1902 – 1994)
Popper argues by using his theory of “falsification” that a solution to the problem of induction would be to deny it being the basis of scientific method; albeit finding a solution to the aforementioned problems portrayed by Hume.
He stated that when scientists start off with a theory (not with an observation as thought by Hume), it is always provisional. ... Thus, in the long term, I am better off as the argument is on the same level with the current theory, and has disproven the generalization. ... Say, for example, I have a patient in my surgery that has dreamt a particularly diverse dream, and wishes for my interpretation as a qualified Freudian psychoanalysist.
Approximate Word count = 1865
Approximate Pages = 7.5
(250 words per page double spaced)
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