Rationality and Methodological Change: Dudley Shapere's conception of scientific development

Authors

  • Kólá Abímbólá University of Leicester

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/%25x

Abstract

Over the last 4 or so decades, Dudley Shapere has developed a rich and interesting alternative to the Kuhnian “relativist” account of science and its development. This paper is a review of this alternative viewpoint. It is a critical evaluation of Shapere’s arguments in support of the claim that radical methodological change can be allowed in science without thereby embracing relativism (and without ending with an irrational account of scientific change).

Published

2006-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles