What is the focus of Karl Popper's philosophy of science?

Karl Popper's philosophy of science centers on the principle of falsification, which asserts that for a theory to be considered scientific, it must make predictions that can be potentially disproven by evidence. This approach emphasizes that scientific theories should be structured in such a way that they can be tested and possibly refuted through observation or experimentation, rather than confirmed.

Falsification stands in contrast to the idea of verification, which suggests that scientific theories can be proven true based on accumulated evidence. Popper argued that no amount of positive outcomes can definitively verify a theory, as there may always be future evidence that contradicts it; thus, the focus should be on the ability to refute rather than confirm. This aspect of Popper's philosophy highlights the dynamic and provisional nature of scientific knowledge, which evolves as new evidence emerges that challenges existing theories. Additionally, instead of building theories through induction, where specific observations lead to general conclusions, Popper proposed a deductive approach where scientists start with bold conjectures that are then tested against empirical evidence.

Through this lens, falsification serves as a cornerstone of scientific methodology, encouraging ongoing scrutiny and rigorous testing of theories, ultimately fostering a more robust understanding of the natural world.