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I think the current situation calls for a more rigorous application of Popperian standards, not less. Nothing about "this study applies to this specific situat
by rossdavidh 5y ago
I think the current situation calls for a more rigorous application of Popperian standards, not less.
Nothing about "this study applies to this specific situation" is counter to Popper. However, if it fails to replicate in other situations, it tends to suggest at the very least "might be too specific to this situation to have practical application".
This happens in software as well. If my system works on my specific laptop but anyone with a slightly different version of the programming language, imported libraries, or operating system will be unlikely to get it to work, then it's just not good software. The solution is not (usually) to put something in the README that says "will only work with python 3.6.7 on Ubuntu 18.04", the solution is to change the software so it is more generally applicable. And it's on me the programmer, to make that happen. If the scientific phenomenon is specific to 1990's Tokyo but not 2000s Miami, then some major variable is being left out, and the science requires finding out what that is.
I agree with your basic point that there is a big difference between non-replicable and fraud, though.
- dalbasal 5y ago>> Nothing about "this study applies to this specific situation" is counter to Popper. However, if it fails to replicate in other situations, it tends to suggest at the very least "might be too specific to this situation to have practical application". Maybe not technically, but it does imply that "this specific situation" should be defined specifically, hence controls. I agree that broad applicability, and replicability are strong indicators of truth value. That said, there are pursuits of rational knowledge outside of Popperian ideals. That's not represented in the way Science, as an institutions works.