hypothetico-deductive method
- hypothetico-deductive method
The method particularly associated with a philosophy of science that stresses the virtues of
falsification . Most simply, a hypothesis is proposed, and consequences are deduced, which are then tested against experience. If the hypothesis is falsified, then we learn from the attempt, and are in a position to produce a better one. If not, then we can try other tests. One philosophical divide is between radical followers of
Popper, who deny that probability accrues to a theory through its having survived such tests,
and others who insist that it must, since otherwise it would be irrational to rely upon hypotheses that have survived until now. See also
explanation,
verisimilitude . Other criticisms of the method point out that in practice auxiliary assumptions are always made in working out the experimental consequences of a theory, and that theories acquire credibility in other, indirect ways. See also
Duhem thesis.
Philosophy dictionary.
Academic.
2011.
Look at other dictionaries:
hypothetico-deductive method — /huy peuh thet i koh di duk tiv/, Logic. a method in which a hypothetical model based on observations is proposed and is then tested by the deduction of consequences from the model. [1925 30; HYPOTHETIC(AL) + O + DEDUCTIVE, prob. as trans. of It… … Universalium
hypothetico-deductive method — /huy peuh thet i koh di duk tiv/, Logic. a method in which a hypothetical model based on observations is proposed and is then tested by the deduction of consequences from the model. [1925 30; HYPOTHETIC(AL) + O + DEDUCTIVE, prob. as trans. of It… … Useful english dictionary
hypothetico-deductive method — See deduction … Dictionary of sociology
Hypothetico-deductive model — The hypothetico deductive model or method, first so named by William Whewell,[1][2] is a proposed description of scientific method. According to it, scientific inquiry proceeds by formulating a hypothesis in a form that could conceivably be… … Wikipedia
hypothetico-deductive — adjective Date: 1912 relating to, being, or making use of the method of proposing hypotheses and testing their acceptability or falsity by determining whether their logical consequences are consistent with observed data … New Collegiate Dictionary
hypothetico-deductive — hy·po·thet·i·co de·duc·tive .hī pə thet i .kō di dək tiv adj of or relating to scientific method in which hypotheses suggested by the facts of observation are proposed and consequences deduced from them so as to test the hypotheses and evaluate… … Medical dictionary
hypothetico-deductive — ]ə̇kō adjective Etymology: hypothetic + o : of or relating to scientific method in which hypotheses suggested by the facts of observation are proposed and consequences deduced from them so as to test the hypotheses and evaluate the consequence :… … Useful english dictionary
Deductive reasoning — Deductive reasoning, also called deductive logic, is reasoning which constructs or evaluates deductive arguments. Deductive arguments are attempts to show that a conclusion necessarily follows from a set of premises or hypotheses. A deductive… … Wikipedia
Deductive-nomological model — The deductive nomological model (or D N model) is a formalized[citation needed] view of scientific explanation in natural language. It characterizes scientific explanations primarily as deductive arguments with at least one natural law statement… … Wikipedia
Deductive-nomological — The deductive nomological (or D N) model is a formalized view of scientific explanation in natural language. It characterizes scientific explanations primarily as deductive arguments with at least one natural law statement among its premises.… … Wikipedia
