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Single Idea 4644

[filed under theme 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 6. Falsification ]

Full Idea

The problem with falsification is that it fails to work with logically particular claims such as 'some swans are purple'. Examining a million swans and finding no purple ones does not falsify the claim, as there might still be a purple swan out there.

Gist of Idea

A proposition such as 'some swans are purple' cannot be falsified, only verified

Source

J Baggini / PS Fosl (The Philosopher's Toolkit [2003], §3.29)

Book Ref

Baggini,J and Fosl,P.S.: 'The Philosopher's Toolkit' [Blackwells 2003], p.131

A Reaction

Isn't it beautiful how unease about a theory (Popper's) slowly crystallises into an incredibly simple and devastating point? Maybe 'some swans are purple' isn't science unless there is a good reason to propose it?

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]
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]
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]
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]