No number of sightings of white swans can prove the theory that all swans are white. The sighting of just one black one may disprove it. Karl Popper More Quotes by Karl Popper More Quotes From Karl Popper There is no history of mankind, there is only an indefinite number of histories of all kinds of aspects of human life. Karl Popper kind numbers history The defence of democracy must consist in making anti-democratic experiences too costly for those who try them; much more costly than a democratic compromise Karl Popper democracy compromise trying What really makes science grow is new ideas, including false ideas. Karl Popper new-ideas grows ideas It is clear that everybody interested in science must be interested in world 3 objects. A physical scientist, to start with, may be interested mainly in world 1 objects--say crystals and X-rays. But very soon he must realize how much depends on our interpretation of the facts, that is, on our theories, and so on world 3 objects. Similarly, a historian of science, or a philosopher interested in science must be largely a student of world 3 objects. Karl Popper rays may world The initial stage, the act of conceiving or inventing a theory, seems to me neither to call for logical analysis nor to be susceptible of it. Karl Popper logical analysis science Thus science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths; neither with the collection of observations, nor with the invention of experiments, but with the critical discussion of myths, and of magical techniques and practices. Karl Popper criticism practice science We hate the very idea that our own ideas may be mistaken, so we cling dogmatically to our conjectures. Karl Popper hate may ideas The old scientific ideal of episteme - of absolutely certain, demonstrable knowledge - has proved to be an idol. The demand for scientific objectivity makes it inevitable that every scientific statement must remain tentative for ever. Karl Popper objectivity idols science Science is the century-old endeavour to bring together by means of systematic thought the perceptible phenomena of this world into as thorough-going an association as possible. To put it boldly, it is the attempt at a posterior reconstruction of existence by the process of conceptualization. Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value judgements of all kinds remain necessary. Karl Popper judgement science mean Definitions.... are never really needed, and rarely of any use Karl Popper definitions needed use Better our hypotheses die for our errors than ourselves. Karl Popper rationality hypothesis errors It is wrong to ask who will rule. The ability to vote a bad government out of office is enough. That is democracy. Karl Popper freedom government office Criticism of my alleged views was widespread and highly successful. I have yet to meet a criticism of my views. Karl Popper criticism successful But it is certainly not possible to insist on one hand that the formalism is complete and to insist on the other hand that its application to 'the actual' actually demands a step which cannot be derived from it. Karl Popper demand science hands The history of science is everywhere speculative. It is a marvelous hiatory. It makes you proud to be a human being. Karl Popper proud humans science The influence (for good or ill) of Plato's work is immeasurable. Western thought, one might say, has been Platonic or anti-Platonic, but hardly ever non-Platonic. Karl Popper hard-work plato science Serious rational criticism is so rare that it should be encouraged. Being too ready to defend oneself is more dangerous than being too ready to admit a mistake. Karl Popper serious criticism mistake It is not intuitive ease I am after, but rather a point of view which is sufficiently definite to clear up some difficulties, and to be criticized in rational terms. (Bohr's complementarity cannot be so criticized, I fear; it can only be accepted or denounced - perhaps as being ad hoc, or as being irrational, or as being hopelessly vague.) Karl Popper views ease science The scientific tradition is distinguished from the pre-scientific tradition by having two layers. Like the latter, it passes on its theories; but it also passes on a critical attitude towards them. Karl Popper attitude two science Propose theories which can be criticized. Think about possible decisive falsifying experiments-crucial experiments. But do not give up your theories too easily-not, at any rate, before you have critically examined your criticism. Karl Popper giving-up science thinking
