Falsifying Scientific Theories: in Many Simple Expositions of the Scientific

question 123

Essay

Falsifying Scientific Theories: In many simple expositions of the scientific method, it is often stated that if a scientific theory makes an incorrect prediction, it is falsified and must be discarded. Argue against this simple view of the scientific method by using the Algol paradox (Section 12.4) as a case study. In particular, why did astronomers not discard the theory of stellar evolution despite an apparent direct contradiction of a fundamental prediction of stellar evolution, that more massive stars evolve faster than less massive stars?

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Special Order

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