Scientific rationality, decision and choice

Vihren Bouzov

pp. 17-29

in: Dimitri Ginev (ed), Bulgarian studies in the philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2003

Abstract

In my view, without a clear-cut understanding of the concept of rationality itself and of scientific rationality in particular, it would not seem warrantable to take in science as a pattern of rationality, and to consider scientific activity as being more rational than other types of human activity. Else, its consideration as an abstract construction with dogmatic and restrictive characteristics — or as a void of content and wholly evaluative concept — will, for sure have serious grounds. Indeed, it is of major importance to find out positive solutions to problems of the nature of rationality in the context of the present existing intellectual crisis, when the criticism of science and irrationalism are in an aggressive offensive and there is talk about `collapse" of scientism and foundationalist programs in philosophy and of the scientific perception of the world as well (Tuomela, Science, 93).