Karl Popper · Philosophy

Conjectures and Refutations: How Knowledge Grows

Popper&rsquo;s answer to Hume&rsquo;s problem of induction: science does not build knowledge by generalizing from observations at all. It grows by <em>conjecture and refutation</em> - bold guesses, ruthlessly tested and weeded out - so that knowledge advances not by proving theories true but by eliminating the false.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Popper accepted Hume&rsquo;s point that induction cannot be logically justified, and drew a radical conclusion: science never uses induction, but advances by conjecture and refutation - proposing bold theories and eliminating those that fail our tests. Explain why Popper thought there is no induction,…

Leads to David Hume.

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