“Every scientist who claims that his theory is supported by experiment or observation should be prepared to ask himself the following question: Can I describe any possible result of observation or experiment which, if actually reached, would refute my theory?
If not, then my theory is clearly not an empirical theory. For if all conceivable observations agree with my theory, then I cannot be entitled to claim of any particular observation that it gives empirical support to my theory.
Or in short, only if I can say how my theory might be refuted, or falsified, can I claim that my theory has the character of an empirical theory.
This criterion of demarcation between empirical and non-empirical theories I have also called the criterion of falsifiability or the criterion of refutability. It does not imply that the irrefutable theories are false. Nor does it imply that they are meaningless. But it does imply that, as long as we cannot describe what a possible refutation of a certain theory would be like, that theory may be regarded as lying outside of the field of empirical science.”
Karl Popper, 'The Myth of the Framework'.
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Karl Popper, in a tv-discussion with John Eccles and Fons Elders. The interview can be found in ‘Reflexive Water – The Basic Concerns of Mankind’ (ed. Fons Elders). It contains other interviews too.' Quoted on July 14th
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