What is Karl Popper's falsification principle?

Answered in Karl Popper's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

The central idea is that a scientific theory cannot be definitively proven true through observation. Instead, we can only attempt to disprove it. If a theory withstands repeated attempts at falsification, it gains corroboration, but it remains provisional. A single, well-designed experiment that contradicts a theory is sufficient to reject it. This emphasis on testability and the possibility of refutation is crucial for scientific progress.

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