Let’s start with some Lakatos
This is the second fall that I have taught theory of science to the masters students. And, as this is more an avocation than the center of what I’m supposed to research (but I am always interested in the periphery), it takes me quite a bit of work to prepare for the lectures, and I have loads more to learn. Which, well, I like. I like theory of science. I like thinking about how we know things, and whether we really can know these things – boring into the mysteries.
So, for this year, I first went through all the Meehl lectures, which was wonderful.
One of my buddies (who is taking the class) started likening me bringing up Meehl to “and by the way, Carthage should be destroyed”.
I also, actually, actively listened through Kuhn’s “Structure of scientific revolution”. Well, I got a horrible cold, so I figured that was good use of my prep time when I could not keep my mind straight. It actually helps having gone through the actual text, rather than just doing it through hearsay. And, he is not that difficult. (Possibly because it is 50 years later, and I’ve read both sociology of science and work generated through the science wars – guess which side I took). He just goes on and on and on and on…. Gosh, Tom, could you possibly edit that down a bit?
And, I wanted to get to Lakatos. Daniel Lakens said good things about him. It was interesting hearing Meehl tell personal anecdotes about him. And, so Keith Laws started tweeting in quotes, and eventually, tweeted in these recordings of his lectures.
I’m not quite at the point in work burden where I can sit down and leisurely listen to it, but I will, and then I can go here, and find them again.
Meanwhile, I hope you are enjoying them too.
Reblogged this on …not that kind of psychologist.