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Line 7: − + − − "I have changed my mind about the testability and logical status of the theory of natural selection; and I am glad to have an opportunity to make a recantation"
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In his seminal work, ''The Logic of Scientific Discovery,'' Karl Popper repudiated induction, and proposed the bright line of [[Falsifiable|falsifiability]] as a demarcation between science and non-science. In order to be scientific, a theory must be testable, and the results of the testing must either corroborate the theory, or falsify it. A proposed theory is falsifiable, if it is conceivable to conduct an experiment that would disprove the theory. For example, Newton's law of gravity is a valid scientific theory because it is falsifiable; that is, the Law of Gravity is experimentally testable, and a measurement taken that violates Newton's law would falsify it, while a measurement that substantiates the theory would corroborate it, but importantly, would not 'prove' it.
In his seminal work, ''The Logic of Scientific Discovery,'' Karl Popper repudiated induction, and proposed the bright line of [[Falsifiable|falsifiability]] as a demarcation between science and non-science. In order to be scientific, a theory must be testable, and the results of the testing must either corroborate the theory, or falsify it. A proposed theory is falsifiable, if it is conceivable to conduct an experiment that would disprove the theory. For example, Newton's law of gravity is a valid scientific theory because it is falsifiable; that is, the Law of Gravity is experimentally testable, and a measurement taken that violates Newton's law would falsify it, while a measurement that substantiates the theory would corroborate it, but importantly, would not 'prove' it.
While chemistry, Newtonian physics, and many other fields belong to science, metaphysics and pseudoscience are not scientific. Whilst it is commonly stated that Popper did not believe Evolutionary Theory to be a scientific theory, since he argued that it was tautological in 'Unended Quest' (1976), he in fact withdrew his criticism in 'Dialectica' (32:344-346), stating;
While chemistry, Newtonian physics, and many other fields belong to science, metaphysics and pseudoscience are not scientific. Popper did not believe Evolutionary Theory to be a scientific theory, arguing that it was tautological in 'Unended Quest' (1976).
=== Universal Laws ===
=== Universal Laws ===