Abstract

The paper is devoted to an analysis of the conception of the ideals of science as put forwards by Stefan Amsterdamski, a Polish philosopher of science. According to Amsterdamski, the “ideal of science” is to be understood as an historically variable set of values and purposes which, in order to be socially identified as “scientific”, have to be embodied in a cognitive activity undertaken in a given period. By means of this concept Amsterdamski proceeds to discuss central problems of the 20th century philosophy of science: its rationality, the factors determining its growth, as well as the social and ethical consequences of its development. The dialogue between Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos and Koyré leads Amsterdamski to formulate a set of proposals which are interpreted by the authoress as enabling him to avoid the extremes of Popper’s a-historical approach on one side, and the relativism of the sociology of science, on the other