Time to Quantify Falsifiability

Ilya Nemenman

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arXiv · 1506.00914

Time to Quantify Falsifiability

Ilya Nemenman

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Abstract

Here we argue that the notion of falsifiability, a key concept in defining a valid scientific theory, can be quantified using Bayesian Model Selection, which is a standard tool in modern statistics. This relates falsifiability to the quantitative version of the Occam's razor, and allows transforming some long-running arguments about validity of certain scientific theories from philosophical discussions to mathematical calculations. This is a Letter to the editor.

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Ilya Nemenman. 2015-06-02. Time to Quantify Falsifiability. https://arxiv.org/abs/1506.00914

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