3 ms·
I don't think that falsifiability is that much of a difference between the humanities and the sciences. No scientific hypothesis is falsified by a single isolat
by Archelaos 3y ago
I don't think that falsifiability is that much of a difference between the humanities and the sciences. No scientific hypothesis is falsified by a single isolated observation (such evidence could always be an error in measurement, faked data, an halucinating scientist, etc.). Instead, the particular professional community reaches a conclusion by evaluating new evidence in the light of established beliefs. If we think of falsification we usually mean the emergence of new evidence that is so striking that the community changes an established belief without much ado. But this might happen in history as well, if new valuable documents were discovered, an important artifact was given a new date, something crucial turned out to be a forgery, etc.