Falsification and the Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes
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Ascribing unfavourable outcomes to auxiliary hypotheses rather than core theory is rational behaviour that may precipitate important theoretical developments and empirical discoveries.
“indeed, this is perfectly rational behaviour which may precipitate important theoretical developments and empirical discoveries”
From Integrated information and predictive processing theories of consciousness: An adversarial collaborative review (2026) · cites this paper as Lakatos, 1976
Successive failures to accrue evidence in favour of AI-C would be indicative of a 'degenerating' research programme and reason to pursue alternative theories more vigorously.
“This being said, successive failures to accrue evidence in favour of the theory would be indicative of a 'degenerating' research programme (i.e., one that requires multiple updates to account for existing data, yet which fail to deliver novel insights or predictions that are subsequently corroborated; Lakatos, 1976) -and reason to pursue alternative theories more vigorously”
From Integrated information and predictive processing theories of consciousness: An adversarial collaborative review (2026) · cites this paper as Lakatos, 1976
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- Authors
- Lakatos, I.
- Corresponding author
- Lakatos, Imre
- Venue
- Can Theories be Refuted?
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Published
- 1976
- Pages
- 205-259
- OpenAlex
- W1582174699
- Cited by
- 3,915
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 94 · 2020: 77 · 2019: 84 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 84 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 100 · 2014: 121 · 2013: 138 · 2012: 134
- FWCI
- 214.53
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Springer eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy, Science, and History
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics
- Keywords
- falsification, scientific research programs, methodology of science, consensus, logical positivism, skepticism, scientific knowledge, philosophy of science
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