Scientific Objectivity: How is it Possible?

Abstract

The paper discusses the topic of scientific objectivity and how it can be achieved by revealing the views of both leading 20-th century thinkers-Max Weber and Sir Karl Popper. Weber's conception of 'value-free science' is discussed in the first part of the paper. My argument here is put forward according to which the conditions in Germany after WWI and the tendency to politicization of the 'German science' served as one of the reasons why Weber concerned himself with investigating scientific objectivity, both in scientific research and in teaching science in universities. The second part reveals Karl Popper's ideas on the topic of objectivity in science with special emphasis on scientific criticism and rational discussion as the basis of Popper's solution of the problem. Comparisons between the 'Weberian' and the 'Popperian' conceptions of scientific objectivity are drawn.