Letter: It was a privilege to criticise Popper
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Former students of Sir Karl Popper will be amazed by Rom Harre's contention (obituary, 19 September) that Popper's methodology of falsification is itself refuted by an assumption which he never made, but which the apologists for induction invoked as a last-ditch defence of their position - especially when the assumption is as wide-sweeping as the Law of Uniformity of Nature. Which parts of nature?
For many of us at the LSE in the 1950s, Professor Popper was the leading intellectual influence there. It was a privilege for second-year undergraduates to be taught by such a major figure. The biggest eye-opener was his insistence on the fallibility of knowledge, including his own.
In keeping with this arresting proposition, he would ask us to spend the second hour of each lecture period in criticising him. He would shout 'Criticise]' in a thick Germanic accent, and we would do our best to stand up to him. Needless to say, nobody ever got the better of him.
Yours etc,
MICHAEL KENNEDY
School of Economic Studies
University of Manchester
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments