A theory is said to be strong if it would be impossible to prove it is wrong.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Consider the statement and what it implies about the nature of scientific theories.
Option 1: 'False' — This option claims that a theory being strong means it would be impossible to prove it wrong. In philosophy of science, particularly in Popperian philosophy, a good theory is one that is falsifiable; that is, it can be tested in principle and shown to be false by evidence. A theory that cannot be contradicted by any possible observation would be unfalsifiable and is generally regarded as weak or unscientific. Therefore, describing a strong theory as one that cannot be disproven is inconsistent with the idea of falsifiability, making this option a correct characterization of the statement's truth value.
Option 2: 'True' — This asserts that a strong theory would be impossible to prove wrong. As explained above, the hallmark of a strong, scientifically robust theory is its falsifiability, not its immunity to refutation. If a theory cannot be disproven by any possible evidence, it fails to meet the criterion of scientific testability, which undermines the notion of strength in the Popperian sense. Thus, labeling this statement as true misrepresents the standard view on theory strength.
To further contrast the implications, imagine a theory that accommodates every possible observation without contradiction. While such a theory might seem comprehensive, it effectively blocks the possibility of learning from refuting data, which is contrary to the experimental and empirical progression of science. Hence, the claim that strength equals impossible refutation collapses under this critique.
In summary, the idea that a strong theory cannot be proven wrong conflicts with the principle of falsifiability that underpins scientific robustness, so the statement is not correct. The alternative interpretation aligns with the emphasis on testability and potential refutation as a sign of a strong theory.

BIOLOGY 109 001 WN 2025 Quiz 2

A theory is said to be strong if it would be impossible to prove it is wrong.

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