How Popper Reinvented Science

When they think about science, most people imagine it as a quest to find absolute truth. However, one of the most widely accepted theories on scientific methodology, Popper's Falsifiability, suggests that we can never arrive at that absolute truth.

Since ancient times, science has encouraged us to observe the world without preconceived notions to develop theories that represent the truth. Yet, in 1934, Karl Popper introduced the radical concept of falsifiability in his book "The Logic of Scientific Discovery." Popper argued that it is impossible to discard our preconceived beliefs entirely; therefore, we must assume that those beliefs influence the theories we've already developed.

Building on this, Popper proposed that a distinction should be made between science and pseudoscience. The focus of true science should be on conducting experiments aimed at disproving your theory, while pseudoscience seeks only to find ways to confirm an idea. In other words, a robust scientific theory should make testable predictions that can be potentially falsified. Take astrology as an example: it offers generalized predictions that can fit almost any outcome, making it nearly impossible to disprove. This lack of falsifiability places it outside the domain of scientific inquiry.

Popper's theory has shaped the modern approach to science, stipulating that every theory must be testable, refutable, and falsifiable. By keeping the principle of falsifiability in mind, we can all apply a more scientific mindset to our daily lives, helping us distinguish credible theories from mere conjecture.

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