Temperate Rationalism: An Option for the Methodology and Understanding of Scientific Enterprise

Abstract

One of the fundamental difficulties that have bugged the minds of contemporary philosophers of science is the extent to which Popper and the Popperians’ rational model can be adopted for explanatory purpose in science. Examining closely the controversy between the rationalists and the adherents of the so-called “strong programme in the sociology of scientific knowledge” – who attack the whole notion of “rational” model. This paper argues that both models represent extreme perspectives which, taken on their own, cannot produce a satisfactory notion of scientific enterprise, especially when the notions of goal, change, progress and truth are subsumed in the understanding of scientific methodology. It, therefore, proposes “temperate rationalism” as an option for scientific rationality on the grounds of relevance of its general picture of progress both in theories and in methodology.