Karl Popper
Karl Popper was an Austrian-British philosopher and professor, widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of science of the 20th century. He is known for his contributions to the philosophy of science, particularly his advocacy of empirical falsifiability as a criterion for scientific theories.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. The Open Society and Its Enemies
The book critically examines the philosophical underpinnings of totalitarianism and argues in favor of liberal democracy and open societies. It explores how certain philosophical ideas, particularly those of Plato, Hegel, and Marx, have contributed to the development of authoritarian regimes by promoting historicism and determinism. The author advocates for a society that embraces critical thinking, individual freedom, and the ability to adapt and change through democratic processes. By emphasizing the importance of critical rationalism, the book underscores the dangers of dogmatic thinking and the need for societies to remain open to reform and innovation.
The 473rd Greatest Book of All Time -
2. The Logic of Scientific Discovery
This book is a significant work in the philosophy of science, proposing a methodology for scientific discovery that challenges traditional inductive reasoning. The author argues that scientific theories can never be proven definitively, but can only be corroborated or falsified through empirical testing. He introduces the concept of falsifiability as the key criterion for distinguishing scientific theories from non-scientific ones. The book also delves into the problems of induction, demarcation, and the relationship between theory and observation in scientific practice.
The 4245th Greatest Book of All Time
