Kísérhetike

Kísérhetike is a term used in Hungarian-language discourses to denote the concept of experimentability—the property or capacity of something to be subjected to experimentation. The term is primarily encountered in discussions at the intersection of research ethics, science policy, and philosophy of science, where it is used to frame questions about the scope and limits of experimentation.

Etymology: It appears to be a Hungarian neologism formed from the noun kísérlet (experiment) with a productive suffix to form a noun referring to a quality or state. The exact usage and connotation may vary by author, and it is not widely standardized.

Definition and scope: In broad terms, kísérhetike encompasses both practical feasibility (whether an experiment is technically possible) and normative permissibility (whether it is ethically or legally appropriate to perform the experiment). Some scholars differentiate between ontological experimentability (the inherent possibility) and epistemic/value-based experimentability (the justification for conducting experiments).

Applications: The term is sometimes employed in debates on research involving humans, animals, or ecological systems to articulate thresholds for permissible inquiry. It can also appear in discussions of data governance and dual-use research, where the potential for experiments to cause harm affects their legitimacy.

Criticism: Critics argue that kísérhetike risks oversimplifying complex ethical assessments into a single scalar property and may obscure contextual factors such as consent, risk, and societal value.