In Search of a Better World : Lectures and Essays From Thirty Years

'I want to begin by declaring that I regard scientific knowledge as the most important kind of knowledge we have', writes Sir Karl Popper in the opening essay of this book, which collects his meditations on the real improvements science has wrought in society, in politics and in the arts in the course of the twentieth century. His subjects range from the beginnings of scientific speculation in classical Greece to the destructive effects of twentieth century totalitarianism, from major figures of the Enlightenment such as Kant and Voltaire to the role of science and self-criticism in the arts. The essays offer striking new insights into the mind of one of the greatest twentieth century philosophers. (Source: [Routledge](https://www.routledge.com/In-Search-of-a-Better-World-Lectures-and-Essays-from-Thirty-Years/Popper/p/book/9780415135481)) In The Course Of A Life Of Ninety Years Sir Karl Can Look Back On Positive Changes In The World - The Vast Reductions In Mass Poverty, The Liberalization Of Penal Systems, The Defeat Of Dictatorships. The Search For A Better World Is Never Complete, But In Spite Of Two World Wars And A Long And Dangerous Cold War, It Was Not In Vain. The Essays And Lectures Collected In This Book Chart Many Familiar As Well As Some Less Known Aspects Of Sir Karl's Thinking - From His Interest In The Birth Of Scientific Speculation In Classical Greece To The Destructive Effects On The Intellect Of Totalitarianism In Twentieth-century States. His Discussions Range Over Problems Of Politics, The History Of Philosophy And Great Figures Of The Enlightenment Such As Voltaire And Kant, And The Relation Of Science And Art (in An Address Given At The 1979 Salzburg Festival). The Book Offers Important New Insights Into The Thought Of One Of The Greatest Of Living Philosophers, And Into The Role Of Science In Our Civilization.--jacket. Pt. I. On Knowledge. 1. Knowledge And The Shaping Of Reality: The Search For A Better World. 2. On Knowledge And Ignorance. 3. On The So-called Sources Of Knowledge. 4. Science And Criticism. 5. The Logic Of The Social Sciences. 6. Against Big Words (a Letter Not Originally Intended For Publication) -- Pt. Ii. On History. 7. Books And Thoughts: Europe's First Publication -- Appendix: On A Little-known Chapter Of Mediterranean History. 8. On Culture Clash. 9. Immanuel Kant: The Philosopher Of The Enlightenment (a Lecture To Commemorate The 150th Anniversary Of Kant's Death). 10. Emancipation Through Knowledge. 11. Public Opinion And Liberal Principles. 12. An Objective Theory Of Historical Understanding. Karl Popper. Translation Of: Auf Der Suche Nach Einer Besseren Welt. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Front Cover 1 In Search of a Better World 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 A summary by way of a preface 8 Translator's acknowledgements 11 Part I: On knowledge 12 1. Knowledge and the shaping of reality: the search for a better world 13 2. On knowledge and ignorance 40 3. On the so-called sources of knowledge 54 4. Science and criticism 62 5. The logic of the social sciences 74 6. Against big words (A letter not originally intended for publication) 92 Part lI: On history 106 7. Books and thoughts: Europe's first publication 107 Appendix: On a little-known chapter of Mediterranean history 115 8. On culture clash 125 9. Immanuel Kant: the philosopher of the Enlightenment (A lecture to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Kant's death) 134 10. Emancipation through knowledge 145 11. Public opinion and liberal principles 159 12. An objective theory of historical understanding 169 Part III: Von den Neuesten ... zusammengestohlen aus Verschiedenem, Diesem und Jenen 179 13. How I see philosophy (Stolen from Fritz Waismann and from one of the first men to land on the moon) 180 14. Toleration and intellectual responsibility (Stolen from Xenophanes and from Voltaire) 195 15. What does the West believe in? (Stolen from the author of The Open Society) 211 16. Creative self-criticism in science and art (Stolen from Beethoven's sketch books) 230 Appendix 240 Name index 243 Subject index 248

'I want to begin by declaring that I regard scientific knowledge as the most important kind of knowledge we have', writes Sir Karl Popper in the opening essay of this book, which collects his meditations on the real improvements science has wrought in society, in politics and in the arts in the course of the twentieth century. His subjects range from the beginnings of scientific speculation in classical Greece to the destructive effects of twentieth century totalitarianism, from major figures of the Enlightenment such as Kant and Voltaire to the role of science and self-criticism in the arts. The essays offer striking new insights into the mind of one of the greatest twentieth century philosophers.

"In Search of a Better World is a collection of Popper's essays and lectures covering a range of subjects from the beginning of scientific speculation in classical Greece to the need for a new professional ethic based on the ideas of tolerance and intellectual responsibility. Popper discusses major figures of the Enlightenment sucha s Voiltaire and Kant, as well as logic of the social sciences and the role of science and self-criticism in the arts."--Back cover The first half of the title of my lecture was not chosen by me, but by the organizers of the Alpbach Forum.