Philosophy of Physics: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

by David Wallace

3. Over time, unexplained anomalies can build up, and/or the changes to the auxiliary hypotheses needed to explain the anomalies become increasingly contrived, ad hoc, and unsuccessful in giving rise to novel predictions. The research programme is degenerating (Lakatos); the paradigm is in crisis (Kuhn). 4. Even so, we seldom if ever abandon a research programme except when some more successful rival is available. Research programmes are tested not simply against the world, but also against other research programmes. (It was not until the success of general relativity—a new research programme—that Newtonian gravity was regarded as falsified.)

main (theory is theory. not conclusion.)