Changes

Arguing in his [[Lakatos (1978a)|''Methodology of Scientific Research Programs'']], [[Imre Lakatos]] viewed theories not in isolation, but as part of an interrelated set that he named research programmes. A '''research programme''' is composed of the ‘hard core’ and the ‘protective belt.’ The former contains the central and fundamental theories of the programme, whereas the latter included subsidiary and secondary theories or assumptions. In light of the emergence of experimental anomalies or new data, Lakatos argued that the protective belt was modified to explain the new phenomenon, so that the hard core could be retained. Hence, it was theories in the protective belt that could be rejected and modified. Theories in the hard core were immune to rejection.[[CiteRef::Lakatos (1978a)]] Lakatos was influenced by Popper as he used his notions of theory falsification. However, like Kuhn, he utilized the Quine-Duhem thesis, especially the idea that theories are not tested in isolation, but as part of a web of beliefs. Accordingly, his views on theory rejection reflected the notion that, contrary to the views of most philosophers of early and mid 20th century, theories can only be evaluated as part of a system of beliefs.

|Related Topics=Mechanism of Theory Acceptance,

|Page Status=Needs Editing