Confirmation Holism

Confirmation holism is the idea that scientific theories are tested not in isolation but as part of a network of related beliefs. When new evidence is found, it can support or challenge multiple ideas within this network. Rather than verifying a theory outright, scientists assess how well all interconnected hypotheses align with the evidence. This means that confirming one part may also influence the credibility of other parts, and changing one belief can affect the entire system. Essentially, confirmation holism emphasizes that scientific understanding is a web of interconnected ideas, and evidence influences the web as a whole.