Controversial characteristic the liberal concept of K. Popper

Tarasov Oleg Vladimirovich

The article critically analyzes some of the assessments given by V.N. Zhukov to K.R. Popper's liberal democratic ideas as allegedly metaphysical, utopian and naive. It shows the unreasonableness and inconsistency of such assessments, their inconsistency with the real state of affairs. In particular, the opinions of V.N. Zhukov that K. Popper recognized the necessity of metaphysics for science, as well as that K. Popper's attempts to separate social engineering from metaphysical essentialism are futile, seem erroneous. The theses are substantiated: the British philosopher did not always clearly distinguish between scientific hypotheses and metaphysical ideas; the separation of social engineering and essentialism (metaphysics) is quite possible.

Keywords:K. Popper, metaphysics, utopia, science, liberal ideology, social engineering.