Scientific Objectivity in the Light of Evolutionary Epistemology

The paper considers the role of analogy between a well-adapted organism and scientific theory in the discussion about the objectivity of knowledge. The criticism of existing approaches based on this analogy is offered. The analysis of the concept of adaptation shows that this concept cannot be used as a criterion for the objectivity of scientific theory, but also does not refute the objectivity of perception judgments. Thus, one can formulate a new concept of objectivity as a normative idea in the process of selection of theories, which are based on perception judgements.

Keywords: objectivity, evolutionary epistemology, evolution of epistemic mechanisms, adaptation, intuition.