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Falsificationism: In Defence of the Scientific Status of Marxism

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Karl Popper and Africa: Knowledge, Politics and Development

Abstract

This paper attempts to justify the scientific status of Marxism within the parameter of Popper’s falsification principle as a methodology of science. We adopt the logical analysis method to establish a synthesis between Popper’s falsificationism and orthodox Marxism. The need to harness Marxism as science is a response to Popper’s remarks which seem to pose an insurmountable threat to the scientific status of Marxism as presented in the Conjectures and Refutations. This research applies the falsification principle to Marxism and concludes that the scientific credentials of the latter are acclaimed by the former. As an unfalsified scientific theory, the paper further argues that Marxism in action, as exemplified in Kwame Nkrumah’s revolution for reconstruction, is Africa’s opportunity drive to development.

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Omaboe, M., Usifoh, E.E. (2021). Falsificationism: In Defence of the Scientific Status of Marxism. In: Afisi, O.T. (eds) Karl Popper and Africa: Knowledge, Politics and Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-74214-0_13

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