Some fundamental criteria of the scientific method and the internal structure of science
pp. 91-110
in: Rein Vihalemm (ed), Estonian studies in the history and philosophy of science, Berlin, Springer, 2001Abstract
The author's intention is to represent a brief review of the mainly normative methodological criteria, which enable one to distinguish the scientific approach from the non-scientific or arbitrary one. These normative criteria are applicable, if the completed text pretending to be a scientific one is available. They are indifferent in respect of the way such text has been created. And they are not directly usable for the evaluation of the degree of originality of the data and conceptions represented in such text. Therefore a plain use of these rules can not substitute an evaluation by the competent expert, so far as the positive aspect of this activity is considered. But, in many cases they enable the detection of the non-or antiscientific approach without need for going deep into details. And they may foster the critical attitude of the investigators to their own work.