Hypothesis

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A hypothesis (Greekὑπόθεσις hypóthesis "assumption, premise, basis") is a statement whose validity is merely assumed but, in contrast to mere speculation, can be logically justified insofar as it is free of contradiction and consistent with the knowledge gained so far. Hypotheses do not provide definitive knowledge, but can be useful as working hypotheses in the form of provisional assumptions. Hypotheses that cannot be empirically tested and therefore fundamentally disproved (falsified) are unscientific. In his 1934 manuscript «The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledge», Karl Popper coined the term ad hoc hypothesis for auxiliary hypotheses that are spontaneously introduced for an individual case, i.e. (Latinad hoc "to this, for this"), in order to protect a theory from its falsification. He considered such a procedure methodologically reprehensible. In fact, contemporary scientific research can hardly do without ad hoc hypotheses that have been established temporarily. Paul Feyerabend also pointed this out.

Rudolf Steiner remarks:

„Hypotheses must not be made about something that is supposed to be inaccessible to our knowledge in principle. A hypothesis can only be an assumption about a fact which is inaccessible to us for accidental reasons, but which belongs by its nature to the world given to us.“ (Lit.:GA 30, p. 64)

Literature

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.