The Future Is Open

Karl Popper was one of the most influential and productive philosophers of science of the twentieth century. However, Popper’s legacy on contemporary philosophy of science is surprisingly thin. Although his writings are still a must-read in any introductory philosophy of science course, there is no lively Popperian philosophy of science. His falsificationism is not viewed as a plausible account of scientific development. Nor is his solution to the problem of induction regarded as a successful or promising move. It is evident that Popper’s influence on contemporary philosophy of science is fading. In this chapter, I argue that Popper’s legacy should be more than a chapter of a philosophy of science textbook. His philosophy of science is sharply directed at very central issues and still illuminating new directions in the philosophy of science.