Science and Society in Karl Raimund Popper: some reflections starting from Positivismusstreit

In my work I intend to move from Positivismusstreit, in order to go through the complex and in part unexplored rapport of Popper with the topic of Society. It is possible to point out in the paper presented by Popper in Tübingen some passages that reinforce the idea of a social connotation of science present in Popper’s conception of epistemology. These passages, in my opinion, have two immediate and significant consequences: on the one hand, they support the thesis of one of the scholars of Popper, Ian Jarvie, who, in a volume from 2001, suggested a rereading of the epistemological reflections of Popper from a social approach. Secondly, these passages offer a perspective on the reading which represents new hindsight regarding the conception of ‘Social’ of the two key scholars Popper and Adorno. Through a reconstruction of the initial positions this paper will attempt to underline some similarities between Habermas and Popper, present the Popperian interpretation of the relationship between science and society and the role of sociology. If these aspects are opportunely reconsidered they may actually be an instrument through which it is possible to pinpoint an absolutely unexpected common theme between the participants at Tübingen. What’s more, a further consequence of this would be a reconsideration of the actual collocation of Popper, in contrast, for example to Kuhn, restoring to the author originality and his undeniable interest in the history of social thought.