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Falsification and Demarcation in Astronomy and Cosmology

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

This work inaugurates a critical inquiry into whether the ideas of Karl Popper, a philosopher of science, are used by astronomers and astrophysicists, a practicing community of scientists. It examines four basic components of Karl Popper's philosophy— falsification, prohibition, simplicity, and risk taking— and the extent that these themes become integrated into recent scientific literature on astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and stellar evolutionary theory. It concludes that the philosophy of science is highly relevant to the practice of astronomy, and that Karl Popper plays a unique role in directing different communities of astronomers and cosmologists.

Key Words: philosophy of science • astronomy • Karl Popper • falsification • demarcation • cosmology

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