It is easy to obtain confirmations, or verifications, for…
“It is easy to obtain confirmations, or verifications, for nearly every theory-if we look for confirmations. Confirmations should count only if they are the result of risky predictions... A theory which is not refutable by any conceivable event is non-scientific. Irrefutability is not a virtue of a theory (as people often think) but a vice. Every genuine test of a theory is an attempt to falsify it, or refute it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientific theories must be falsifiable; only risky predictions test validity.
In simple terms: Science advances by trying to prove theories wrong.
Key Takeaway
Design experiments that could disprove your ideas.
Themes
science
falsifiability
methodology
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- research design
- policy analysis
- education
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
philosophy of science
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions in your field resist testing?
- How can you balance falsifiability with practical utility?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on falsification can ignore useful provisional models.