
Popper's Falsificationism
Karl Popper's falsificationism is the idea that scientific theories cannot be proven true but can only be tested and potentially proven false. In experimentation and observation, a hypothesis should make predictions that can be rigorously tested. If an experiment contradicts these predictions, the theory is considered falsified, prompting scientists to revise or discard it. This process encourages continuous questioning and improvement of scientific knowledge, making it dynamic and self-correcting, rather than static or dogmatic. Essentially, a theory gains credibility by surviving tests, not by accumulating proof.