Error and the Progress of Science:

An Analysis of the Philosophies of Karl Popper andPaul Feyerabend

Abstract

This article examines the epistemological role of scientific error by analyzing the responses of Karl Popper and Paul Feyerabend to the problem of error. It begins by clarifying the terminological foundations for the use of the term error in scientific contexts. Popper’s response is then discussed within the framework of falsifiability, emphasizing how his conception of conjectures and refutations departs from traditional views, while still presenting certain limitations. Feyerabend’s progressive response, in turn, attributes an essential and non-transitory role to error in the advancement of knowledge, particularly within the divergent proliferation of cosmologies. By critically examining this response, the article contributes to a broader understanding of the significance of errors in scientific progress.