This article first probes the relationship between general/utopian and specific/reformist approaches to social problem solving to endorse the paradigmatic shift from the former to the latter. It then presents the Popperian 3 world theory and augments it with the views of Lacatos to highlight the effective role of rival research programs and cross-criticism in social problem solving and the advancement of science. Finally, based on these theoretical formulations, the article critiques problem solving approaches within the Iranian academic structure.
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