Philosophy 2700F/G Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Normal Science, Scientific Community, Falsifiability
26 Oct 2018
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Theories should be clearly stated, precise and informative. Theories are never true, although they can be superior to predecessors that have been falsified. Science starts with problems that arise from observations. Hypothesis must be more falsifiable than the one it replaces. Theory is falsified if another theory: has more empirical content over old theory, includes unrefuted content of old theory, new content is supported by empirical and observation. Ad hoc modifications are unacceptable as it only reduces the number of potential falsifiers. Modified theories that lead to new independently testable tests. Significant advances will be marked by: confirmation (verification) of bold conjectures as such conjectures can falsify, some part, of the background knowledge, falsification of cautious conjectures. Bold and novel are historically relative notions. Inconsistency: evidence/observation may be at fault rather than the theory itself no ground to reject theory. Realistic scientific theory consists of: auxiliary assumptions, initial conditions.
