Theory-Ladenness

Theory-ladenness is a relatively new epistemological topic in science philosophy. It is a situation in which observation reports and empirical data are unconsciously assimilated with theoretical biases. The unconscious need for theoretical validation intervenes with the decision-making process. It prompts decisions such as; what observations will be performed constructs the boundaries of observational terms and inspires interpretation and assessment of empirical data, by that, affecting the formation of perceptions. The Theory-ladenness argument challenges the aspiration of positivist science for objective knowledge attainment by means of strict experimental procedures. This concept empowers the stance that observations are not neutral adjudicators in theory testing. Clearly, neither the theory-ladenness of observation nor an overly empirical emphasis can do justice to the complexity of the interrelation between theory and experiment (Beller 1988; Bogen 2010; Schindler 2012).