Imre Lakatos

Imre Lakatos was a philosopher of science known for his ideas on how scientific theories develop and change over time. He suggested that science advances through "research programs" that consist of a core theory protected by auxiliary hypotheses. Unlike simply falsifying a theory, Lakatos emphasized that scientists modify their theories to account for new evidence while maintaining the core principles. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of scientific progress, where theories can evolve rather than be outright rejected, contributing to a dynamic process of knowledge expansion and scientific explanation.