A THREAD on thought provoking ideas by Karl Popper:
1/
No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude.
1/
No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude.
2/
Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.
Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.
3/
For myself, I am interested in science and in philosophy only because I want to learn something about the riddle of the world in which we live, and the riddle of man's knowledge of that world.
For myself, I am interested in science and in philosophy only because I want to learn something about the riddle of the world in which we live, and the riddle of man's knowledge of that world.
4/
I remained a socialist for several years, even after my rejection of Marxism; & if there could be such a thing as socialism combined with individual liberty, I'd be a socialist still. For nothing could be better than living a modest, simple, & free life in an egalitarian...
I remained a socialist for several years, even after my rejection of Marxism; & if there could be such a thing as socialism combined with individual liberty, I'd be a socialist still. For nothing could be better than living a modest, simple, & free life in an egalitarian...
...society. It took some time before I recognized this as no more than a beautiful dream; that freedom is more important than equality; that the attempt to realize equality endangers freedom; and that, if freedom is lost, there will not even be equality among the unfree.
5/
The game of science is, in principle, without end. He who decides one day that scientific statements do not call for any further test, and that they can be regarded as finally verified, retires from the game.
The game of science is, in principle, without end. He who decides one day that scientific statements do not call for any further test, and that they can be regarded as finally verified, retires from the game.
6/
A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right.
A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right.
7/
The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error. But science is one of the very few human activities — perhaps the only one — in which errors are systematically criticized & fairly often corrected.
The history of science, like the history of all human ideas, is a history of irresponsible dreams, of obstinacy, and of error. But science is one of the very few human activities — perhaps the only one — in which errors are systematically criticized & fairly often corrected.
8/
Nature consists of facts and of regularities, and is in itself neither moral nor immoral.
It is we who impose our standards upon nature, and who in this way introduce morals into the natural world, in spite the fact that we are part of this world.
Nature consists of facts and of regularities, and is in itself neither moral nor immoral.
It is we who impose our standards upon nature, and who in this way introduce morals into the natural world, in spite the fact that we are part of this world.
9/
Our aim as scientists is objective truth; more truth, more interesting truth, intelligible truth. We cannot reasonably aim at certainty. Once we realize that human knowledge is fallible, we realize also that we can never be completely certain that we have not made a mistake.
Our aim as scientists is objective truth; more truth, more interesting truth, intelligible truth. We cannot reasonably aim at certainty. Once we realize that human knowledge is fallible, we realize also that we can never be completely certain that we have not made a mistake.
10/
The war of ideas is a Greek invention. It is one of the most important inventions ever made.
Indeed, the possibility of fighting with ideas instead of fighting with swords is the very basis of our civilization, and especially of all its legal & parliamentary institutions.
The war of ideas is a Greek invention. It is one of the most important inventions ever made.
Indeed, the possibility of fighting with ideas instead of fighting with swords is the very basis of our civilization, and especially of all its legal & parliamentary institutions.
11/
The most we can say of democracy or freedom is that they give our personal abilities a little more influence on our well-being.
The most we can say of democracy or freedom is that they give our personal abilities a little more influence on our well-being.
12/
The method of learning by trial and error—of learning from our mistakes—seems to be fundamentally the same whether it is practised by lower or by higher animals, by chimpanzees or by men of science.
The method of learning by trial and error—of learning from our mistakes—seems to be fundamentally the same whether it is practised by lower or by higher animals, by chimpanzees or by men of science.
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