How did Larry Laudan connect scientific progress with problem solving?

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Marble bust of Aristotle with a beard and draped robe, showing detailed facial features and wavy hair, set against a dark background. — Philosophy of science Aristotle, marble portrait bust, Roman copy (2nd century bce) of a Greek original (c. 325 bce); in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome.

In the context of the philosophy of science, Larry Laudan sought to redefine scientific progress by moving away from the traditional focus on accumulating truth. Instead, he proposed that science should be understood as a process of problem solving.1

Laudan developed a methodology for science that centers on the assessment of a theory's problem-solving success. By evaluating how effectively a scientific approach addresses the questions and challenges within its domain, he aimed to provide a framework for understanding progress that does not rely on the assumption that science is simply converging toward a singular, ultimate truth.1

However, this perspective has faced significant philosophical criticism. Many scholars argue that it is difficult to define what constitutes a "solution" to a scientific problem without implicitly invoking the concept of truth, as a successful solution is most naturally identified as a true answer to a scientific question.1