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qsz comments on How to provide a simple example to the requirement of falsifiability in the scientific method to a novice audience? - Less Wrong Discussion

5 Post author: Val 11 April 2016 09:26PM

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Comment author: [deleted] 13 April 2016 11:03:31AM 1 point [-]

I use something like this in introductory psychology lab classes.

For the initial example (theory = bucket contains only red balls) you can also introduce an unfalsifiable alternative theory, perhaps something like "bucket contains only red balls but the act of observing them may change their colour".

Comment author: johnlawrenceaspden 14 April 2016 04:29:32PM *  0 points [-]

That's not unfalsifiable! Get them out by machine and photograph them before they get looked at. Then when you look at them and they're red, but the photographs are of blue balls, you've nailed it. Observation producing physical effects.

Comment author: johnlawrenceaspden 14 April 2016 04:31:21PM 1 point [-]

And carry on. As the theories have to squirm to avoid experiments, they'll slowly approach unfalsifiability and become more and more complex / make fewer and fewer predictions.

Comment author: johnlawrenceaspden 14 April 2016 04:33:23PM *  1 point [-]

Except in quantum mechanics, where they end up being really simple and explaining everything, but they make your head break.