Conjectures and Refutations

Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge (1963) is a work of nonfiction on scientific knowledge and discovery by Karl Popper. The book posits that the fundamental difference between science and pseudo-science is falsification, the process of using rigorous and empirical tests to evaluate a theory’s credibility. This was a great departure from previous explanations of the scientific method’s unique ability to understand the world, as philosophers had previously theorized that empirical observation and verification were the basis of the scientific method. Popper instead suggests that neither empiricism nor pure reasoning are the basis of human knowledge, as neither on their own can truly evaluate the validity of a theory. He argues that it is only through a process of trial and error, and through the rejection of falsified theories, that people can be certain they are working toward a greater truth.

Conjectures and Refutations received critical acclaim upon its publication and has been considered a fundamental text in the fields of philosophy and science ever since.

This guide uses the 1963 first edition published by Basic Books.

Summary

Conjectures and Refutations includes 20 chapters divided into two segments. The first, titled “Conjectures,” includes the Introduction and Chapters 1-10.