Critique of Philosophical Megalomania: Doing Philosophy According to Karl Popper

Abstract

In addition to being a philosopher of science, Karl Popper is a thinker whose original ideas in politics, epistemology, ethics, and other areas of philosophy have compelled his contemporaries to engage with and critically assess his work. Central to Popper’s philosophical thought are questions such as: What should be the fundamental problems of philosophy? Is there a language specific to philosophy? What are the obstacles that make doing philosophy difficult and render it obscure? In this study, we aim to evaluate these perennial philosophical questions from Popper's perspective. According to Popper, the greatest value of philosophy lies in revealing unnoticed contradictions and problems. Philosophers are not a privileged class, but questioning individuals. Popper argues that philosophical problems are not merely linguistic puzzles but are grounded in facts, hypotheses, and logical inferences. As can be seen, Popper’s  philosophical approach distinguishes itself from many of his contemporaries by being both critical and problem-oriented. He defines philosophy as a quest for truth and rejects Plato’s notion of the philosopher as a superior figure, as embodied in the “philosopher-king” ideal. This study has been prepared with the belief that Popper’s approach to philosophy and the philosopher may offer valuable insights for resolving contemporary epistemological confusions. Our article is approached using philosophical analysis and interpretive qualitative methods. When necessary, conceptual analysis and critical evaluation are also included.