[Marxism] Re: Popper

["paul illich" <paul_illich@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jurriaan wrote

> Paul, you wrote:
>
> > Once, however, a necessary prediction leading from a theory is shown to be
> > false, the theory is dead-wood - or at least the relevant aspects of the
> > theory.
>
> Lakatos however suggests that an "anomaly" for a theory in this sense is
> precisely what fuels the growth of knowledge, since, rather than abandon
> the theory, it prompts attempts to save the theory by extending it, in
> order to save it from refutation.

I also wrote:

"Yes, falsified theories are
in a sense "useless", but then again, no - the points at which a theory
that has been widely accepted on previous evidence as a useable working
hypothesis are extremely interesting and important. They are the bedrock
of the next theory/hypothesis."

Which I believe covers much of your point. However, I'm off to get hold of
some
Lakatos, as between yourself and Mike I am wanting to reaquaint myself with
his ideas. They do not seem incompatible with Popper, from what you've said,
but he does sound like he may live closer to the "real world" than Karl,
perhaps!

Watch this space, it may take a while...


Paul



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