Difference between revisions of "Karl Popper"
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| − | Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) was an insightful Austrian-born philosopher who had an influence on science. Popper observed that science should only include a theory that is "falsifiable", which means capable of being proven false if it is false. Popper wrote that "the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability."<ref>http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/popper_falsification.html</ref> | + | Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) was an insightful Austrian-born philosopher who had an influence on science. Popper observed that science should only include a theory that is "[[falsifiable]]", which means capable of being proven false if it is false. Popper wrote that "the scientific status of a theory is its [[falsifiability]], or refutability, or testability."<ref>http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/popper_falsification.html</ref> |
| − | An example of a theory that is not falsifiable is the claim that black holes exist. If that claim were false, there is no way to prove that it is false. According to Popper's theory, a claim that black holes exist is not really science. However, Popper himself seemed reluctant to apply his own philosophy to the [[theory of general relavitity]]. | + | Popper proposed applying his theory of falsification to proposals in ethics and politics. Popper's approach even has merit in debunking claims that "if only ..." something happened, then everything would be better. "If only I were a wealthy man, then ...." There is no way to falsify such claims even if they were false, so there is no point in wasting any time thinking about them. |
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| + | An example of a scientific theory that is not falsifiable is the claim that black holes exist. If that claim were false, there is no way to prove that it is false. According to Popper's theory, a claim that black holes exist is not really science. However, Popper himself seemed reluctant to apply his own philosophy to the [[theory of general relavitity]]. | ||
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Revision as of 04:30, December 30, 2006
Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) was an insightful Austrian-born philosopher who had an influence on science. Popper observed that science should only include a theory that is "falsifiable", which means capable of being proven false if it is false. Popper wrote that "the scientific status of a theory is its falsifiability, or refutability, or testability."[1]
Popper proposed applying his theory of falsification to proposals in ethics and politics. Popper's approach even has merit in debunking claims that "if only ..." something happened, then everything would be better. "If only I were a wealthy man, then ...." There is no way to falsify such claims even if they were false, so there is no point in wasting any time thinking about them.
An example of a scientific theory that is not falsifiable is the claim that black holes exist. If that claim were false, there is no way to prove that it is false. According to Popper's theory, a claim that black holes exist is not really science. However, Popper himself seemed reluctant to apply his own philosophy to the theory of general relavitity.
Sources:
