Larry Laudan

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Larry Laudan (born October 16, 1941 in Austin , Texas ) is an American theorist of science . He is a vehement critic of the traditions of positivism, realism and relativism.

Instead, he takes a position called "normative naturalism ", which (empirical) science sees it as a problem-solving activity. Progress within a field occurs when successive theories show increasing effectiveness in solving problems. According to Laudan, such progress can be classified as rational.

Works

  • Progress and its Problems: Towards a Theory of Scientific Growth. 1977
  • Science and Hypothesis. 1981
  • Science and Values. 1984
  • Science and Relativism: Dialogues on the Philosophy of Science. 1990
  • The Book of Risks. 1995
  • Beyond Positivism and Relativism. 1996
  • Danger Ahead. 1997
  • Truth, Error and Criminal Law: An Essay in Legal Epistemology. 2006. ISBN 978-0-521-86166-3
personal data
SURNAME Laudan, Larry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Laudan, Larry Lynn (full name); Laudan, LL
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American philosophy of science
DATE OF BIRTH October 16, 1941
PLACE OF BIRTH Austin , Texas