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Education
Larry Laudan attended the University of Kansas and was the magna cum laude when accomplishing his B.A in Physics in 1962. He then went on to study Philosophy at Princeton where he achieved his M.A in 1964. After, he became a Junior Research Fellow at the Churchill College at the University of Cambridge from 1964 to 1965. He became Dr. Laudan upon achieving his Ph.D. at Princeton in 1965. -
"Progress and its Problems"
Dr. Laudan, with the help of University of California Press, published his first book in 1977. In his book, he stated, "I propose that the rationality and progressiveness of a theory are most closely linked-not with its confirmation or its falsification-but rather with its problem solving effectiveness." The book was said to "shake philosophy of science to its roots" by reviewers, as Laudan believed that "contextual problem solving effectiveness is a criterion for progress" (Laudan, 1977). -
"A Confutation of Convergent Realism"
Please see the attached YouTube video for information on Dr. Laudan's Convergent Epistemic Realism. He wrote an essay describing it in 1981. Laudan critiques the idea that success in problem-solving or predictive accuracy necessarily implies proximity to truth. He contends that successful predictions or problem-solving capacities do not inherently indicate truth or convergence towards truth, as even false theories can be successful sometimes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7ShefBoe3Y -
"Beyond Positivism and Relativism"
In this collection of essays, Laudan suggests that scientific theories should be evaluated based on problem-solving effectiveness and empirical success within specific research programs rather than seeking absolute certainty or discarding objectivity altogether. He advocates for a middle ground that acknowledges the fallibilism of scientific knowledge while still valuing objectivity and realism in scientific endeavors.