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Single Idea 22189
[filed under theme 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 6. Falsification
]
Full Idea
There is no sense in abandoning a successful theory if you have nothing to replace it with.
Gist of Idea
Why abandon a theory if you don't have a better one?
Source
Geoffrey Gorham (Philosophy of Science [2009], 2)
Book Ref
Gorham,Geoffrey: 'Philosophy of Science' [One World 2009], p.38
A Reaction
This is also a problem for infererence to the best explanation. What to do if your best explanation is not very good? The simple message is do not rush to dump a theory when faced with an anomaly.
The
21 ideas
with the same theme
[establishing that a fact or theory is not true]:
5862
|
A single counterexample is enough to prove that a truth is not necessary
[Aristotle]
|
5629
|
If a proposition implies any false consequences, then it is false
[Kant]
|
22658
|
Experimenters assume the theory is true, and stick to it as long as result don't disappoint
[James]
|
22137
|
Observation can force rejection of some part of the initial set of claims
[Duhem, by Boulter]
|
19464
|
We only discard a hypothesis after one failure if it appears likely to keep on failing
[Ayer]
|
22191
|
Kuhn's scientists don't aim to falsifying their paradigm, because that is what they rely on
[Kuhn, by Gorham]
|
18076
|
Most theories are continually falsified
[Kuhn, by Kitcher]
|
16830
|
We don't only reject hypotheses because we have falsified them
[Lipton on Popper]
|
6794
|
If falsification requires logical inconsistency, then probabilistic statements can't be falsified
[Bird on Popper]
|
6795
|
When Popper gets in difficulties, he quietly uses induction to help out
[Bird on Popper]
|
22188
|
Give Nobel Prizes for really good refutations?
[Gorham on Popper]
|
7780
|
Falsification is the criterion of demarcation between science and non-science
[Popper, by Magee]
|
18284
|
Particulars can be verified or falsified, but general statements can only be falsified (conclusively)
[Popper]
|
4223
|
Unfalsifiability may be a failure in an empirical theory, but it is a virtue in metaphysics
[Lowe]
|
4644
|
A proposition such as 'some swans are purple' cannot be falsified, only verified
[Baggini /Fosl]
|
22174
|
The discoverers of Neptune didn't change their theory because of an anomaly
[Okasha]
|
22175
|
Science mostly aims at confirming theories, rather than falsifying them
[Okasha]
|
22189
|
Why abandon a theory if you don't have a better one?
[Gorham]
|
22190
|
If a theory is more informative it is less probable
[Gorham]
|
19685
|
Falsificationism would be naive if even a slight discrepancy in evidence killed a theory
[McGrew]
|
14576
|
Smoking disposes towards cancer; smokers without cancer do not falsify this claim
[Mumford/Anjum]
|