What principle states that a hypothesis or theory must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific?

The principle that a hypothesis or theory must be able to be proven false to be considered scientific is known as falsifiability. This concept, introduced by philosopher Karl Popper, is crucial in distinguishing scientific claims from non-scientific ones. Falsifiability emphasizes that for a hypothesis to be considered scientific, it must make predictions that can be tested and potentially refuted through observation or experimentation.

Falsifiability allows scientists to formulate hypotheses that can be subjected to scrutiny and testing. A theory that cannot be falsified cannot be rigorously tested and potentially disproven, which means it falls outside the realm of scientific inquiry. This principle is fundamental, as it establishes a clear criterion for the scientific method, ensuring that hypotheses are not just assertions but are instead grounded in observable evidence that can affirm or negate them.

Other options such as testability, replicability, and verifiability relate to scientific inquiry, but they do not encapsulate the specific requirement of being able to prove a hypothesis false. Testability involves the ability to assess a hypothesis through experimentation, replicability focuses on whether results can be consistently reproduced under the same conditions, and verifiability pertains to whether findings can be confirmed through further investigation. However, it is falsifiability that directly