ABSTRACT

This chapter presents two topics: the philosophy of science and the psychology of science. The science of psychology, like any other science, is based on the empirical criterion. However, the empirical criterion has a logical basis, so the chapter starts with a brief discussion of logic. Philosophers and historians of science observe what scientists do and provide an answer to the question of what is the logic of scientific enquiry, but that answer has changed over time. In the 19th century the view was that science was based on the logic of induction. In the 20th century the view was that science is based on the logic of deduction. Both types of logic are examined separately before a psychological analysis shows how both types are used in science. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book.