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Larry Laudan is born
Larry Lauden was born on October 16, 1941, in Austin, Texas. He attended the University of Kansas for his bachelor's degree in physics in 1962, and later received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Princeton University in 1965. -
Progress and its problems
Laudan focuses on contextual problem-solving effectiveness as a criterion for progress and expands the notion of 'paradigm' to a 'research tradition. Laudan's theory has many similarities in structure to Lakatos, which is often viewed as an improvement of Lakatos's philosophy. -
Laudan's Theory of Pessimistic Induction
Larry Laudan was skeptical about agreeing with scientists he had met in his time about how the theories modern society created were inherently true because of their current acceptance. His examples of past scientific beliefs to show his ideas were such as the geocentric model of the solar system, the phlogiston theory of chemistry, and the electromagnetic ether. -
Reticulated Model
He explains how science theories and methods can be changed, and he does so rationally. The model stands in sharp contrast to hierarchical approaches to rationality exemplified by Popper, Hempel, and Reichenbach, as well as the conventionalist views of rationality defended by Carnap, Popper, Kuhn, and Lakatos. -
Published Beyond Positivism and Relativism,
. In Beyond Positivism and Relativism, Laudan maintains his critique of these philosophies while introducing new arguments for the identification of non-science, epistemology, and the methodologies for falsification -
Larry Laudans death
Larry died at the age of 80. He is labeled as one of the greatest philosophers of science and his work. He questioned relativism, realism, and positivism and many after him will as well all thanks to his influence and his contributions.