Difference between revisions of "Falsifiable"
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==Carl Sagan== | ==Carl Sagan== | ||
| − | In his book, | + | In his book, ''Demon-Haunted World'' [[Carl Sagan]] gives an example of a statement with this sort of premise saying: "There is a dragon in my garage." In order for one to prove or disprove the statement they are allowed to ask questions. |
*''Q. Can I see the dragon?'' | *''Q. Can I see the dragon?'' | ||
Revision as of 17:39, April 12, 2007
A proposal or theory is falsifiable if it can be shown to be false when it is false. A proposal or theory that cannot never be shown to false even though it is false is not falsifiable.
For example, the suggestion that I would be a very happy if I were ten years younger is not falsifiable, and thus not worth thinking about. We have no way of knowing if it is false.
Karl Popper persuasively argued that a theory that is not falsifiable is not scientific, because there is no possible way to disprove it. This is known as the doctrine of falsification.
Carl Sagan
In his book, Demon-Haunted World Carl Sagan gives an example of a statement with this sort of premise saying: "There is a dragon in my garage." In order for one to prove or disprove the statement they are allowed to ask questions.
- Q. Can I see the dragon?
- A. No, the dragon is invisible.
- Q. Can I tough the dragon?
- A. No, my dragon is incorporeal.
- Q. Can I hear the dragon?
- A. No, my dragon is silent.
and so on...
In this way, every question can be answered and therefore the existence of the dragon is unfalsifiable. Simply put: it must exist.