Episode 115: Is Falsification Falsifiable?

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In this groundbreaking book, David Deutsch argues that explanations have a fundamental place in the universe and that improving them is the basic regulating principle of all successful human endeavor. The book takes readers on a journey through various fields of science, history of civilization, art, moral values, and the theory of political institutions. Deutsch explains how we form new explanations and drop bad ones, and discusses the conditions under which progress, which he argues is potentially boundless, can and cannot happen. He emphasizes the importance of good explanations, which he defines as those that are 'hard to vary' and have 'reach', and argues that these explanations are central to the Enlightenment way of thinking and to all scientific and philosophical progress.

Karl Popper's "Conjectures and Refutations" is a collection of essays that explores his philosophy of science and its implications for knowledge and social progress. Popper argues that scientific knowledge is not based on verification but on falsification, meaning that theories are tested by attempting to disprove them. He emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the willingness to revise or abandon theories in the face of contradictory evidence. Popper's work has had a profound impact on the philosophy of science and its application to other fields, such as social science and political philosophy. His emphasis on critical thinking and open inquiry remains highly relevant in today's world.