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unfalsifiable explanations

Essays tagged “unfalsifiable explanations”. Follow an idea across the archive.

Essays on unfalsifiable explanations

2 essays

Mar 17, 2009LW

The "Spot the Fakes" Test

Scott proposes testing untestable humanities claims by mixing one sincere argument with several deliberately fabricated ones, inspired by the Ern Malley poetry hoax, and seeing whether experts can tell them apart.

7 min read 1,010 words

Mar 15, 2009LW

Are You a Solar Deity?

Scott uses Littledale's satire proving Max Muller was a solar myth to show how comparative methods can prove anything, and asks how to tell true correspondences from false ones.

8 min read 1,221 words

bad science blinded testing of humanities claims creative writing