Popper's Demarcation Criterion

Popper's Demarcation Criterion is a way to distinguish scientific theories from other beliefs. According to philosopher Karl Popper, a theory is scientific if it can be tested and potentially proven wrong through experiments or observations. This means scientists should actively seek evidence that might disprove their ideas, rather than just trying to confirm them. If a theory is so flexible that it can explain anything and cannot be tested or falsified, it doesn't count as scientific. In short, genuine science relies on testability and the possibility of falsification to ensure ideas are positions to be challenged and refined.