ABSTRACT
Attempts to portray Marxist method as scientific have utilised different conceptions of science, usually the dominant model of the time. At different times Marxism has been interpreted to fit the models of science put forward by scientific positivism, critical rationalism, conventionalism and scientific realism. In each case the philosophy of science embraced has been taken to be the true account of science and Marxism has been taken to exemplify the particular conception of science. Thus Marxism has been to be scientific. This chapter compares Marx's method with the four models of science, and assesses the various attempts to match Marxism with the conceptions of science. Empiricism, or some form of it, is central to positivism, and testability is very closely linked to it. Positivism has always tended to try to restrict what is meaningful, important or valid to that which can be readily established.
