About Karl Popper

Karl Popper was an influential 20th-century philosopher known for his theory of falsification, which challenged the classical inductivist views on the scientific method. He was a staunch defender of liberal democracy and open society, though his primary interest was in the philosophy of science rather than politics.

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More quotes from Karl Popper

Good tests kill flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

In so far as a scientific statement speaks about reality, it must be falsifiable; and in so far as it is not falsifiable, it does not speak about reality.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

Those who promise us paradise on earth never produced anything but a hell.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

We must plan for freedom, and not only for security, if for no other reason than that only freedom can make security secure.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

There is no history of mankind, there are only many histories of all kinds of aspects of human life. And one of these is the history of political power. This is elevated into the history of the world.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

Science may be described as the art of systematic over-simplification.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

Whenever a theory appears to you as the only possible one, take this as a sign that you have neither understood the theory nor the problem which it was intended to solve.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

We have become makers of our fate when we have ceased to pose as its prophets.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

Science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

Piecemeal social engineering resembles physical engineering in regarding the ends as beyond the province of technology.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)

No rational argument will have a rational effect on a man who does not want to adopt a rational attitude.

Karl Popper

Austrian-British philosopher of science and social and politica e falsificationism and for criticism of Plato, Hegel and Marx as totalitarian opponents of open society (1902-1994)