Ep 22: The Logic of Experimental Tests
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The Immunization of a Theory
Popa: Every theory can be immunized. If we allow such immunization, then every theory becomes unfalsifiable. Thus we must exclude at least some immunizations. But i also realize that we must not exclude all immunisations - even those which introduced adhock auxiliary hypotheses. For example, the observed motion of uranus might have been regarded as a falsification of newton's theory. Instead, the auxiliary hypothesis of an outer planet was introduced ad hoc, thus immunizing the theory. This turned out to be fortunate for the auxiliary hypothesis is a testable one, even if difficult to test,. and it stood up to tests successfully. All this shows not only that some degree
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