falsifiability

falsifiability
The property of a statement or theory that it is capable of being refuted by experience. In the philosophy of science of Popper falsifiability is the great merit of genuine scientific theory, as opposed to un-falsifiable pseudo-science, notably psychoanalysis and historical materialism . Popper's idea was that it could be a positive virtue in a scientific theory that it is bold, conjectural, and goes beyond the evidence, but that it had to be capable of facing possible refutation. If each and every way things turn out is compatible with the theory, then it is no longer a scientific theory, but, for instance, an ideology or article of faith. See also falsification.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • falsifiability — noun The quality of being falsifiable. These ideas have many virtues, but falsifiability is not one of them. See Also: falsifiable, falsificationism …   Wiktionary

  • falsifiability — noun see falsify …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • FALSIFIABILITY —    a variant of the VERIFICATION PRINCIPLE developed by Sir Karl POPPER who argued that while we cannot absolutely prove that something is true, it is possible to falsify theories and BELIEFS thus eliminating error. He made falsification the test …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • falsifiability — n. ability to be distorted; alterability; ability to be falsified …   English contemporary dictionary

  • falsifiability — fal·si·fi·abil·i·ty …   English syllables

  • falsifiability — ˌfȯl(t)səˌfīəˈbiləd.ē, bilətē, i noun ( es) : the quality or state of being falsifiable …   Useful english dictionary

  • falsified — falsifiability …   Philosophy dictionary

  • falsifiable — falsifiability …   Philosophy dictionary

  • Pseudoscience — Part of a series on Science …   Wikipedia

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