It would be wrong to assume that one must stay with a research programme until it has exhausted all its heuristic power, that one must not introduce a rival programme before everybody agrees that the point of degeneration has probably been reached. Imre Lakatos agreeassumedegeneration share on social
Blind commitment to a theory is not an intellectual virtue: it is an intellectual crime. Imre Lakatos blindcommitmentcrime Change image and share on social
The clash between Popper and Kuhn is not about a mere technical point in epistemology. Imre Lakatos clashepistemologykuhn Change image and share on social
The classical example of a successful research programme is Newton's gravitational theory: possibly the most successful research programme ever. Imre Lakatos classicalgravitationalnewton Change image and share on social
Research programmes, besides their negative heuristic, are also characterized by their positive heuristic. Imre Lakatos characterizeheuristicnegative Change image and share on social
Our empirical criterion for a series of theories is that it should produce new facts. The idea of growth and the concept of empirical character are soldered into one. Imre Lakatos characterconceptcriterion Change image and share on social
Philosophy of science without history of science is empty; history of science without philosophy of science is blind. Imre Lakatos blindemptyhistory Change image and share on social
The positive heuristic of the programme saves the scientist from becoming confused by the ocean of anomalies. Imre Lakatos anomalyconfuseheuristic Change image and share on social
There is no falsification before the emergence of a better theory. Imre Lakatos emergencefalsificationtheory Change image and share on social
If even in science there is no a way of judging a theory but by assessing the number, faith and vocal energy of its supporters, then this must be even more so in the social sciences: truth lies in power. Imre Lakatos assessenergyfaith share on social
