Quote:
Originally Posted by beppe
This is very profound, and very clearly stated.
There is a quite established line of thought, due originally to Popper, according to which the only steps forward, toward a better understanding (of anything in practice) are trough a process of confutation (falsification).
In other words and extending the image, you learn only if you break the rules. I love that.
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Right you are about Popper. In his view—which is very mainstream—elements which are not capable of being falsified have no place in a scientific theory. Miniature deities may be responsible for the the strong nuclear force; but as there is no conceivable experiment that could be done to disprove such an hypothesis, it has no place in science.