If even in science there is no a way of judging a theory but by assessing the number, faith and vocal energy of its supporters, then this must be even more so in the social sciences: truth lies in power.
Interpretation
The validity of beliefs in science and social sciences often relies on the support and influence they gather, rather than objective truth.
Imre Lakatos's quote reflects on the nature of truth, suggesting that in both scientific and social domains, the strength and fervor of proponents can overshadow actual empirical verification. It implies that societal beliefs may be shaped more by power dynamics and the intensity of advocacy than by rational discourse or evidence, highlighting a critical view of how knowledge is constructed and validated.
In practice
During a debate on climate change, this quote could illustrate the role of political power in shaping public belief around scientific findings.
It would be wrong to assume that one must stay with a research programme until it has exhausted all its heuristic power, that one must not introduce a rival programme before everybody agrees that the point of degeneration has probably been reached.
No experimental result can ever kill a theory: any theory can be saved from counterinstances either by some auxiliary hypothesis or by a suitable reinterpretation of its terms.
Blind commitment to a theory is not an intellectual virtue: it is an intellectual crime.
Philosophy of science without history of science is empty; history of science without philosophy of science is blind.
It is not that we propose a theory and Nature may shout NO; rather, we propose a maze of theories, and Nature may shout INCONSISTENT.
Whether we like it or not, the one justification for the existence of all religions is death, they need death as much as we need bread to eat.
The louder our world today is, the deeper God seems to remain in silence. Silence is the language of eternity; noise passes.
What does it mean, exactly, for a given system to be a 'neural correlate of consciousness'?
Government: If you refuse to pay unjust taxes, your property will be confiscated. If you attempt to defend your property, you will be arrested. If you resist arrest, you will be clubbed. If you defend yourself against clubbing, you will be shot dead. These procedures are known as the Rule of Law.
Our waking life's desire to shape the world to our convenience invites all manner of paradox and difficulty.
To be sane in a world of madman is in itself madness.
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