TY - JOUR AU - Silva, Mariza Ferreira da AU - Albuquerque, Edu Silvestre de AU - Diniz Filho, Luis Lopes PY - 2021/07/22 TI - FISSURES IN CRITICAL SOCIAL THEORY AND PATHS FOR THE RENEWAL OF GEOGRAPHY JF - Mercator; Vol 20 (2021)DO - 10.4215/rm2021.e20020 KW - N2 -  This critical-interpretative and descriptive text analyzes the main weaknesses of critical social theory and critical Marxist geography. It aims to explore theoretical and methodological references that offer alternative explanations for rethinking central themes of Economic and Urban Geography: unequal development and the peripheralization of the economy. The study is based on reflections upon the relationship of Karl Popper's philosophy of science with the work of the Austrian School of Economics and the theses of the Institutionalist School. Karl Popper's theory of scientific knowledge has two pillars: the concepts of falsifiability and open societies, which are more susceptible to the development of a science capable of getting rid of dogmas. Popper's ethical analysis warns that the capacity for self-criticism is the basis for the development of science. By associating such ethical behavior with open and democratic societies, Karl Popper made profound epistemological criticisms of Marxism, a tradition of thought that still exercises a profound influence in Brazilian geography. We conclude that Karl Popper's scientific conceptions are relevant to the epistemological criticism proposed and exploring new paths of scientific investigation of economic-spatial phenomena.  Keywords: Critical Geography; Epistemology; Economic Development; Austrian School; Institutionalism. UR - http://www.mercator.ufc.br/mercator/article/view/e20020