"Logical positivism was progressive compared with the classical positivism of Ptolemy, Hume, d'Alembert, Compte, John Stuart Mill, and Ernst Mach. It was even more so by comparison with its contemporary rivals—, , , , , and existentialism. However, neo-positivism failed dismally to give a faithful account of science, whether natural or social. It failed because it remained anchored to sense-data and to a phenomenalist metaphysics, overrated the power of induction and underrated that of hypothesis, and denounced realism and materialism as metaphysical nonsense. Although it has never been practiced consistently in the advanced natural sciences and has been criticized by many philosophers, notably Popper (1959 [1935], 1963), logical positivism remains the tacit philosophy of many scientists. Regrettably, the anti-positivism fashionable in the metatheory of social science is often nothing but an excuse for sloppiness and wild speculation."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Mario Bunge (1996). Finding Philosophy in Social Science. Yale University Press. p. 317.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mario_Bunge
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Mario Bunge
1974 – 1989
Mario Augusto Bunge (September 25, 1919 – February 25, 2020) was an Argentine-Canadian philosopher of science and author of the Treatise on Basic Philosophy (8 volumes, 1974–1989). He earned a doctorate in physics at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina (1952) and was the Frothingham Professor of Logic and Metaphysics at McGill University, Canada, until his retirement in 2011.
10 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Mario Bunge →
Related Quotes
"The motto of science is not just Pauca but rather Plurima ex paucissimis — the most out of the least."
"A definitely undesirable rationale sustaining the cult of simplicity is of a metaphysical nature: namely, the wish to…"
"We all would to know more and, at the same time, to receive less information. In fact, the problem of a worker in tod…"
"If one aims to judge political movements, their deeds are far more important than their speeches, which are often mas…"
"When in the sciences or techniques one states that a certain problem is unsolvable, a rigorous demonstration of such …"
"Bunge: In September I will be 90 years old. Reporter: You look very youthful. Bunge: That's because I avoid alcohol, …"
"The fact that a great many scientists signed Faustian pacts with the war devil throughout the twentieth century has g…"
"In academia much bogus knowledge is tolerated in the name of academic freedom – which is like allowing for the sale o…"
"At all times pseudoprofound aphorisms have been more popular than rigorous arguments."
"Imitar equivale a moverse i fatigarse en el wagón de un ferrocarril: nos imajinamos realizar mucho i no hacemos más q…"