Falsifiabilité

Falsifiabilité is a principle in the philosophy of science introduced by Karl Popper in the 1930s. It refers to the potential for a scientific hypothesis or theory to be proven false through empirical evidence or observation. According to Popper, for a theory to be considered scientific, it must be possible to conceive of an observation or experiment that could refute it. This criterion distinguishes scientific theories from non-scientific ones, such as metaphysical or religious beliefs, which cannot be falsified.

The concept addresses the problem of induction in science. While scientific theories can never be definitively proven true through observation, they can be proven false. A theory that withstands repeated attempts at falsification is considered more reliable, but it remains provisional and subject to potential refutation.

Falsifiability has been influential in the demarcation problem, which seeks to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Critics argue that the criterion is too strict, as even well-established scientific theories may be protected from falsification by auxiliary hypotheses. Despite these criticisms, falsifiability remains a key concept in understanding the nature and progress of scientific knowledge.