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{{ | {{a|philosophy|}}{{author|Karl Popper}}’s idea that, since the only way to conclusively rule out a scientific theory is with evidence that contradicts its predictions, it is a necessary condition of a ''bona fide'' scientific theory that it must be, in theory falsifi''able''. There must be evidence you ''could'' present that, if you could find it, ''would'' falsify the theory. | ||
If it isn’t ''possible'' to formulate counter-evidence, even in theory, then the theory must consistent with any possible facts, does not limit any possible outcomes, makes no predictions, as no explanatory power, and is not science. | |||
Mathematical axioms, for example, are statements of logic and not fact. They can’t be falsified. There are no possible circumstances<ref>all right, pedants: at least, not within the [[paradigm]] of Euclidian geometry.</ref> in which ''2 + 2 ≠ 4''. | |||
Therefore the mathematical statement, ''2 + 2 = 4'' is not scientific. | |||
This isn’t as controversial as it might seem if you have never heard it before and it has just slapped you in the face. How can mathematics — the very ''language'' of science — not itself be scientific? But that is the key to it: it is a language in which falsifiable scientific statements may be made; its own internal logic is not, of itself, a matter of science. The rules of English grammar make no statements about the world either. 2 + 2 = 4 is ''logically'' true, not ''empirically'' true. You don’t need evidence to prove it. | |||
Far more controversial is the contention that [[evolution by natural selection]], for exactly the same reason, isn’t scientific either. | |||
===It’s a falsifiabilty defines science, it doesn’t describe how it works=== | |||
Falsifiability is a formal condition for a proposition to be scientific: there have to be circumstances in which it might not be true. But this is not to say science progresses ''by'' falsfication. Since is a profoundly social activity it proceeds by the normal rules of social interaction. | |||
===Kuhn vs. Popper celebrity death match=== | |||
{{verification and falsification}} | |||
{{sa}} | {{sa}} | ||
*{{br|The Structure of Scientific Revolutions}} | *{{br|The Structure of Scientific Revolutions}} | ||
{{ref}} | |||