The dominant philosophy of contemporary science, positioned as a critical refinement of classical positivism. While positivists believed science could achieve certain, objective truth through pure observation, Postpositivism acknowledges that all observation is theory-laden, that absolute certainty is impossible, and that scientific knowledge is fallible and provisional. Yet it maintains that we can still get closer to truth through rigorous methods, peer critique, and the gradual accumulation of evidence. It's positivism that went to therapy, came to terms with its limitations, and decided to keep working anyway.
"My advisor still believes in objective truth but admits every measurement is biased and every theory will eventually be revised. That's Scientific Postpositivism: knowing you'll never be certain, but acting as if getting less wrong matters. It's science with humility, not science with despair."
by Abzugal February 23, 2026
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