Towards a Descriptive Methodology for Science: A Critique of Contemporary Philosophies of Science

Most people imagine that science is rational, objective, and approximates the truth. It is considered rational because it is based on observation and experimentation, not on myths and folklore; it relies on sense perception, not on imagination and emotion. It is seen as objective because the researcher's personal biases, desires, and preconceived beliefs have no place in experimentation, with observation being the decisive factor. It is thought to approach the truth because theories that more accurately explain reality replace less accurate ones, thus science always progresses towards a more faithful depiction of reality.

However, this perception—or, more accurately, this impression—is incorrect. This book, "Towards a Descriptive Methodology for Science," does not solely aim to dismantle the philosophy that justifies this view. Indeed, some have already realized the naivety of this perception after a casual reading of articles or books on the philosophy of science. Instead, it also aims to critique all philosophizing about science in principle—that is, any philosophy that attempts to distinguish science from any other human activity by any of the three traits (rationality, objectivity, and approximation of truth). In contrast, it presents the outlines of a descriptive methodology, and through it, examines these scientific philosophies and the epistemological theories that founded them, to reach some conclusions that we hope will offer a new approach to the philosophy of science.

Book Details:

• Author: Reda Zidan
• Publisher: Barahin Center for Research and Studies - London
• Year of Publication: 2019
• Number of Pages: 216
• Binding Type: Paperback
• ISBN: 9789776545366