REFLECTING ON THE AIM, GROWTH AND RATIONALITY OF SCIENCE IN KARL POPPER

Abstract

In his falsification theory, Karl Popper highlighted the aim, growth and rationality of science. Little wonder he emphasized that falsification aims to demarcate science from non-science or pseudo-science as he called it. He reasons are encapsulated in what he termed rationality of science which incorporates the aim and the mode of growth of science. This paper adopts the philosophical method of analysis to examine the concepts of the aim, growth and rationality in science. The paper argues that the aim, growth and rationality of science gave rise to Popper underscoring the need for objectivity in science, conjectures and explanations as well as verisimilitude, as these are the basics for understanding the aim of science, the procedure of growth of science and the rationality that defines science. The paper, therefore, concludes that Popper’s falsification and demarcation theories were designed to make explicit the aim of science, the process of growth in science and the rationality that is embedded in scientific endeavours.