This book is a defence of the idea that there is such a thing as scientific method. It is also a defence of the idea that such methods can be justified, warranted or legitimized. There is a large core of people who think there is such a thing as a scientific method that can be justified, although not all agree as to what this might be. But there are also a growing number of people who think that there is no method to be justified. For some, the whole idea is yesteryear's debate, the continuation of which can be summed up as yet more of the proverbial “flogging a dead horse”. We beg to differ. There are reasons for the negative view, some of which will emerge as we investigate contemporary views for and against the existence of scientific method. Two sources of negativity come from different, but surprising, directions: first, from some scientists; secondly, from some philosophers alongside an even larger group of historians and sociologists of science and those in cultural studies.

Some scientists on method