This course explores Karl Popper’s “critical rationalist” philosophy. The course begins by looking at the philosophical and scientific context in which Popper formulated his theories. We will examine and challenge the assumptions that lead Popper to conclude that induction is a myth. The course will contrast “critical rationalism” with the Objectivism’s theory of rationality. We will end the course by looking at Popper’s influence on the sciences and the contemporary “rationalist” movement.
Note: Students must have access to a copy of Karl Popper’s book, The Open Society and Its Enemies, and Deborah Mayo’s Error and the Growth of Experimental Knowledge.
Prerequisites or Corequisites: 300-level courses require that a student has completed the “16-Week Objectivism Seminar” or the “Intensive Seminar on Objectivism”.
Course Start Date: October 21, 2024
Schedule: Schedule
Course Readings Provided by ARU:
“On The Sources of Knowledge and Ignorance”
“Epistemology Without a Knowing Subject”
Course Content
Course Includes
- 8 Lessons
- 8 Topics
- 17 Writing Assignments
Course Faculty
Mike MazzaDr. Mazza is an associate fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute. He specializes in the philosophy of science with a particular interest in causality. Dr. Mazza received his PhD in philosophy from Saint Louis University.