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Popper describes good scientific practice as involving scientists putting forward bold conjectures and then attempting to refute those conjectures. Explain what a bold conjecture is and how conjectures can be refuted. Why does Popper think scientists should seek to refute their conjectures rather than confirm them and why does he think that aiming at refutation produce better science? Be sure to not only explain Popper’s reasoning but to evaluate it.
One criticism of Popper’s method focuses on the role of auxiliary hypotheses in hypothesis testing. Explain this criticism and evaluate it. Another criticism is that Popper has no explanation for when we should put more trust in one hypothesis rather than another. Explain this criticism and evaluate it. For both criticisms be sure to consider possible responses by Popper to the criticism and evaluate those responses.
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Explanation & Answer
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Conjectures and Refutations Outline
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Introduction
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II.
Conjectures and Refutations
Bold Conjectures and How Conjectures can be Refuted
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Bold conjectures
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Refutation
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Why Scientists Should Seek to Refute Their Conjectures Rather than Confirm Them
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Why Aiming at Refutation produces better Results
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VIII.
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Role of Auxiliary Hypotheses in Hypothesis Testing
Possible Responses and Evaluation of Responses
Preferences of One Hypothesis over Others
Possible Responses and Evaluation of Responses
Conclusion
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Submission date: 27-Feb-2020 12:44AM (UTC-0500)
Submission ID: 1265095497
File name: Conjectures_and_Refutations.docx (26.35K)
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Running head: CONJECTURES AND REFUTATIONS
Conjectures and Refutations
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CONJECTURES AND REFUTATIONS
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Conjectures and Refutations
Science is based on research and proven hypotheses. Scientific concepts emerge from
repetitive research conducted by different researchers to determine the validity of the information
provided by those who conducted similar studies before them. Karl Popper focused much of his
philosophical work in attempting to differentiate between scientific theories from myths and
other non-scientific ideologies. His philosophy addresses the need for a criterion that could be
used to categorize scientific information from non-scientific theories. Through his work, he also
questions the existing empirical, non-empirical, and pseudo-empirical methods used to
differentiate these theories and their effectiveness.
Bold Conjectures and How Conjectures can be Refuted
According to Popper, all scientific theories are naturally conjectures and inherently weak
or imperfect. Bold conjectures in science are obtained after refutations have been carried out to
prove or disapprove the hypothesis or identified theory. Based on his philosophical work, any
theories that survived numerous rebuttals would be considered as having higher credibility or
authenticity, making it a bold conjecture (Popper, 1965).
Popper’s example of his experience with Alfred Adler illustrated how a conjecture could
be proven right in science. Adler was able to analyze a situation presented to him by Popper
because of his clinical experience, which enabled him to make a specific claim that was related
to his past theories. Adler’s conjecture can be proven based on the argument that even though
patients might present with the same symptoms and get positive results after being tested for the
same condition, each clinical case is different. The variations in clinical cases can be based on
age differences, geographical location, immunity, the existence of other opportunistic infections,
CONJECTURES AND REFUTATIONS
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and different receptions towards the treatment plan. As such, Adler’s theory of basing the case
that Popper presented to him on his clinical experience can be refuted on the basis that altho...