Popperism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A philosophical perspective centered on the ideas and theories of Karl Popper, particularly his views on scientific falsifiability, critical rationalism, and the philosophy of science
2. An intellectual approach based on Popper's concepts emphasizing the importance of empirical testing, the refutation of hypotheses, and the rejection of dogmatism in scientific inquiry
3. A mode of thought derived from Popper's work that advocates for continuous hypothesis testing, openness to criticism, and the provisional nature of knowledge in scientific and philosophical contexts

Etymology: "Popperism" is a plain formation: the surname of the philosopher Karl Popper with the suffix "-ism," which attaches to names to mark a doctrine or school of thought named after a person. Think of "Marxism" or "Darwinism," where a thinker's name becomes the label for a system of ideas built on his work. Popper himself is the source of the ideas the word covers: falsifiability as the mark of scientific claims, the view that hypotheses should be tested and refuted rather than confirmed, and opposition to dogmatic certainty in inquiry. The term therefore names an approach to science and reasoning rather than a single theory, and it is used both by admirers of that approach and by critics who see it as a rigid method.