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Knowledge in the Sciences
Quick questions on Popper and falsifiability explained: H2 Knowledge and Inquiry
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the demarcation problem?Show answer
The demarcation problem asks what distinguishes scientific theories from non-scientific ones. Popper was struck that some theories he examined could explain any conceivable observation: whatever happened, a confirming interpretation was available. He contrasted these with theories that made bold, specific predictions which could have turned out wrong. This contrast suggested that testability, not explanatory flexibility, is the mark of science.
What are the main objections?Show answer
Three objections bite. The Duhem-Quine problem: a hypothesis is never tested in isolation but always with auxiliary assumptions, so a failed prediction does not tell us whether the core hypothesis or an auxiliary is false; clean falsification is therefore impossible. Second, much legitimate science is hard to falsify, including theories in their early development, probabilistic claims, and historical sciences; a sharp falsifiability line risks excluding them. Third, as Kuhn observed, scientists rightly do not abandon a well-established theory at the first anomaly, retaining it until a better alternative appears, which conflicts with naive falsificationism.
What is q1?Show answer
State Popper's criterion of demarcation and explain what "falsifiable" means. [6 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain why Popper prefers falsification to verification. [8 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain the Duhem-Quine objection to naive falsificationism. [6 marks]
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