Positivism as a Dis/Utopia and Alternative Scientific Approaches

Abstract

Although positivism, based on linear progress and the idea that social development can only be achieved through scientific developments, put forward by Auguste Comte as a science movement against idols such as Baconian utopia, it has been argued that it restricts epistemological horizon by creating its own idols. From this point of view, the aim of this study is to mention the ambiguity between positivism and the concept of “science”, and to discuss different ideas of science against the delimitative effects of positivism. For this purpose, firstly the history of positivism will be mentioned; then the discussion on positivism between Popper and Adorno will be evaluated, and then alternative ideas of science and recent interdisciplinary studies will be discussed in regard to epistemological fruitfulness, reliability and social responsibility.

Keywords

• Pozitivizm
• Bilim
• Alexander von Humboldt
• Adorno
• Popper
• Lakatos
• Kuhn