Lay Philosophy: Popper’s Falsifiability and the Social Sciences

Language philosopher Bry Willis explores the misunderstandings of Karl Popper’s falsifiability, clarifying that it serves as a specific entry requirement for empirical science rather than a universal rule for all truth. While a scientific theory must be open to potential refutation, the text argues that social sciences struggle to meet this standard because their subjects of study are inherently unstable. Unlike atoms, human behaviour shifts across different eras, locations, and cultures, making it impossible to establish universal laws or predictable decay functions. This cultural fluidity undermines the predictive power of social research, as human variables are constantly evolving rather than remaining static. Ultimately, the source cautions against imposing scientific narratives on history, suggesting that progress is often a story we tell rather than a mathematically provable certainty. 👉 https://brywillis634737.substack.com/p/lay-philosophy