Popper's Theory of Basic Statements

Shearmur is largely concerned with explaining how Poppers theory of the empirical basis is rooted in Poppers biological approach to psychology in The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledge, and in his discussion, there, of Fries and of Kantian ideas about objectivity. He then discusses how these themes are then drawn upon in The Logic of Scientific Discovery, and offers a defence of the resulting theory. Shearmurs discussion also includes a brief consideration of how Poppers ideas relate to some of the themes of his Open Society, suggesting that Poppers stress on intersubjectivity might be linked not just to Kant, but also to Marx.