Dialectic and science in Aristotle

Abstract

Since the last decades the interpretation of Aristotle's methodology introduced several important changes in the foundationalism which had been traditionally credit to aristotelian epistemology. As a consequence of these changes, however, dialectic assumed a prevailing role in scientific practice, which deprived science from the required empirical content in its own basis. Focusing on the role of dialectic, I am aiming here to present, firstly, an approach to some difficulties which arise from the present prevailing interpretation of aristotelian epistemology. Secondly, I am trying to solve some of these difficulties determining the actual epistemological contribution of beliefs to the conceptual configuration of the empirical basis of science.