Contribution short abstract:

This paper revisits Karl Popper's philosophy of Scientific Progress to explore the necessity of freedom of expression for scientific progress in Social Science, particularly in the context of the global rise of populism.

Contribution long abstract:

In the era of populist uprisings worldwide, the erosion of democratic norms and growing threats to freedom of expression, Karl Popper's Ideas, particularly concerning research, development, and freedom of expression, are more relevant than ever. Karl Popper argued that scientific knowledge advances through conjectures and refutations (Poper, 1963). Popper's concept of falsifiability underscores the importance of critical thinking and empirical rigour in scientific inquiry and provides a counter to the spread of misinformation and anti-science sentiments (Popper,1959).

Research and Development thrive in environments that embrace critical inquiry, and tolerate dissent and debate. However, populist movements frequently challenge these principles by promoting anti-intellectualism, censorship, self-censorship, and polarization. Such trends stifle scientific exploration and limit the scope for error correction, a key mechanism for advancing knowledge as highlighted by Popper’s conjectures and refutations. The research and development in social science affect more in the sense that scientific inquiry into social realities challenges accepted social norms and costumes and sometimes unsettles the status quo which could not conform to populist notions.

The paper argues that safeguarding freedom of expression and fostering critical discourse is essential for making a conducive environment for scientific research and development. For this purpose, this paper explores the relevance of Popperism; particularly his philosophy of science, defence of open societies, and critique of authoritarianism in the context of modern populism, its impact on freedom of expression and Research and Development.

Keywords- Research and Development, Freedom of Expression, Scientific inquiry, critical thinking, Populism