Onfeilbar

Onfeilbar is a term used in epistemology, information theory, and risk management to describe a proposition, model, or system that is deemed incapable of producing error within a defined domain or under specified conditions. It is a neologism that signals an aspirational or idealized property rather than a universal truth, and it is typically qualified by context, scope, and limitations.

Etymology and usage conventions differ by field, but the word is generally treated as a compound meaning “not faulty, able to be free of error.” In practice, onfeilbar is applied to statements, methods, or designs that are claimed to be error-free within a closed set of assumptions or during controlled testing. Analysts often accompany the term with qualifiers such as “within the model,” “under tested conditions,” or “in the limit of perfect information,” to acknowledge boundary conditions.

Applications and implications vary by domain. In reliability engineering and software verification, onfeilbar describes an ideal goal achieved through formal methods, redundancy, validation, and rigorous quality assurance. In philosophy and logic, it raises questions about infallibility, justification, and the limits imposed by incomplete knowledge or Gödelian results. The concept is typically treated as a benchmark or normative objective rather than a universally achievable property.

Critics argue that no real-world system can be truly onfeilbar, given uncertainty, complexity, and evolving contexts. Proponents use the term to guide design principles, risk assessment, and epistemic humility, emphasizing clear scope and transparent limitations.