falsifiability

English

Etymology

Etymology tree
English falsify
Proto-Indo-European *-dʰlom
Proto-Italic *-ðlom
Proto-Italic *-ðlis
Latin -bilis
Latin -ābilis
Old French -ablebor.
Middle English -able
English -able
English falsifiable
Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-ts
Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂tsder.
Latin -itās
Old French -itebor.
Middle English -ite
English -ity
English falsifiability

    From falsifiable + -ity.

    Pronunciation

    • Audio (Mid-Atlantic US):(file)

    Noun

    falsifiability (usually uncountable, plural falsifiabilities)

    1. The quality of being falsifiable. [c. 1910]
      Synonym: refutability
      Antonyms: irrefutability, unfalsifiability
      These ideas have many virtues, but falsifiability is not one of them.
      • 1959, Karl Raimund Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery:
        The degree of their testability is of significance for the selection of theories. In this chapter, I shall compare the various degrees of testability or falsifiability of theories through comparing the classes of their potential falsifiers.
      • 1985, Alexander Rosenberg, The Structure of Biological Science:
        A proposition is scientific if and only if it is falsifiable. This is the criterion or principle of falsifiability. Falsifiability must be distinguished from falsity, of course.
      • 1989, James B. Rule, Theories of Civil Violence:
        The need for some such criterion is one reason why falsifiability of theories holds special importance in this book. If theories yield statements in the empirical world that stand to be confirmed or undermined by actual empirical reports, we have the basis for one overarching standard.

    Translations

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