ABSTRACT
The philosophy of science consists essentially of asking and answering the question ‘what is science?’
1 The philosophy of science is important for the following reasons: a Science possesses enormous ‘rhetorical authority’ in contemporary soci-
ety. Scientific knowledge claims possess immense power to compel belief. Claims to the scientificity of any particular discipline, method or body of assertions about the world likewise increase their credibility. It is thus important to be able to decide whether a particular knowledge claim being made, method being used or discipline’s alleged scientificity is deserved. For example, it is often claimed that astrology is a science, and this goes some way towards establishing its credibility. Yet astrology is not a science.
