On The Theory Of Larry Laudan’s Scientific Rationality

In recent decades, during the development of science and philosophy, many philosophers are in the debate around the theory of scientific rationality. In nineteen thirties, the Berlin School with the head of Reichenbach and the School of Vienna in the represent of Rudolf Carnap form the logical positivism, they discuss with the historicism, which is represented to Popper kuhn and Lakatos in the late1950s, the discussion definites the centre problem of theory of scientific rationality and manifests the difficulty of each theory, and it provide the theoretical background of Laudan’s theory of scientific rationality of Neo-historicism, Laudan critically assimilate the theoretical result of logical positivism and historicism, and on this basis, he claim the theory of scientific rationality. This paper analyzes the background of formation of scientific rationality, and proclaim overall the theory of Laudan’s scientific rationality, it also make a brief comments on the theory value and limitation of his theory.Laudan published the book 《Progress and Its Problems》 since1977, the theory of scientific rationality in this book becomes the critical issue of philosophy of science, and it also makes him in the forefront of contemporary philosophers in the field of philosophy of science, it is criticized and concerned by many people as well. Laudan’s theory of scientific rationality is criticize and inherit the traditional scientific rationality framework of logical positivism and historicism, which reconstruct a new model of scientific rationality, that is just problem-solving model and network model. Problem-solving model is posed by Laudan in his book 《Progress and Its Problems》, in which he claims that the basic purpose of science is activity of solve problem. He divides the problem into empirical problem and conceptual problem, and clearly defines the function and the centre problem of each empirical problem and conceptual problem. He also constructs a model of scientific progress to proclaim the two sorts of problems. He thinks that scientific progress need "research tradition" to understand and estimate, and we can give a preliminary definition to "research tradition", and then according the analysis we can conclude the general characteristic of science. Although problem-solving model has much defect, and it receives critique from many people, but we can remain the core content of scientific rationality model, and constantly improve it. Then,Laudan poses the network model theory in his book 《Science and Values:The Aims of Science and Their Role in Scientific Debate》。In his network model, he change the model which is formed by consensus of opinion, and raised by Kuhn and others, Laudan demonstrates how can the scientists achieve the agreement of suggestion in the theory of value level(based on the assumption that the scientists pursue the same goal). Through the network model Laudan provide a rational illustration of scientific development, and realize the ration of paradigm transformation. Although, there are some problems in the Laudan’s network model and need to discuss, yet what he explores is a new model with the meaning of creation, so it greatly promotes the research of scientific rationality.Laudan’s theory of scientific rationality inherits the tradition of historicism which combined the history of science and philosophy of sience, and attacks the logical positivism and the deficiency of historicism, and demonstrating the dialectical unity of thinking. The problem-solving model and network model which he suggests has surpass the narrow and limit understand with scientific rationality of scientific philosophers before, which reflect the originality of his theory. However, his theory has some incomplete place, it mainly reflects in the tendency of pragmatism and the defect of rationalism.The whole paper is about four part, which introduce the background and major problem of neo-historicism, and proclaim the Laudan’s view about the relation of the purpose of science and resolving problem, and the main theory of scientific research tradition and scientific revolution; The paper investigates and analyzes the Laudan’s problem-solving model、network model and the rationality of scientific progress, and also makes a brief comment on the value and limitation of Laudan’s theory of nationality.The article not only makes the overall Investigation and analysis of the problem-solving model, network model and rationality of scientific progress, but also combines the problem-solving model and network model, which analyzes the relation between the problem-solving model and network model, and this is the innovate point of the paper. The author thinks that the problem-solving model and network model are unite, network model is the specific and supplement of problem-solving model, and they are complementary and interconnected, the analysis of development and progress of the science will comprehensive and reasonable through the combination of problem-solving model and network model. The next innovation of article is the estimation of Laudan’s theory of scientific rationality,I regard that through the research and analysis of scientific problem、research tradition、scientific revolution、 problem-solving model and network model, we can fully elaborate distinction of the Laudan’s scientific rationality, which can overcome the shortages of previous theories and highlight its ability to solve problem, thus shows Laudan’s theory has great progress and rationality.