Karl Popper — Questions and answers
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What did Karl Popper argue about the strength of a scientific theory?
Choices
- A. It comes from finding evidence that proves it right.
- B. It lies in its courage to be proven wrong. ✓
- C. It depends on how many scientists confirm it.
- D. It is about making complex diagrams.
Answer: B. It lies in its courage to be proven wrong.
From page 1
What does Popper's idea of "falsifiability" mean for a scientific theory?
Choices
- A. It must make precise predictions that are always correct.
- B. It must be open to tests that could prove it false. ✓
- C. It needs endless proof to be accepted as true.
- D. It can never be changed once it's proposed.
Answer: B. It must be open to tests that could prove it false.
From page 4
Why did Karl Popper consider Albert Einstein's theory of relativity an "ideal scientific theory"?
Choices
- A. Because it was easy to understand for everyone.
- B. Because it made precise and risky predictions that could be proven false. ✓
- C. Because it was confirmed by many observations over a long time.
- D. Because it could explain almost any outcome, like a horoscope.
Answer: B. Because it made precise and risky predictions that could be proven false.
From page 5
How did Thomas Kuhn's view of how science progresses differ from Karl Popper's?
Choices
- A. Kuhn believed science only changes with a single, quick falsification.
- B. Kuhn suggested science operates within 'paradigms' and shifts during revolutions. ✓
- C. Kuhn thought scientists always agree on theories right away.
- D. Kuhn focused only on the logical steps of an experiment.
Answer: B. Kuhn suggested science operates within 'paradigms' and shifts during revolutions.
From page 7
How does Popper's idea of falsifiability apply to everyday life, beyond science?
Choices
- A. It helps us always confirm our initial ideas.
- B. It encourages us to scrutinize claims and challenge assumptions. ✓
- C. It is only useful for making products stronger.
- D. It means we should never change our beliefs.
Answer: B. It encourages us to scrutinize claims and challenge assumptions.
From page 8
What did Karl Popper mean by an 'open society'?
Choices
- A. A society where everyone must agree on one truth.
- B. A society that is democratic, allows freedom of thought, and can be reformed. ✓
- C. A society that is closed off to outside ideas.
- D. A society where no one is allowed to criticize anything.
Answer: B. A society that is democratic, allows freedom of thought, and can be reformed.
From page 9
What is a key message from Karl Popper's legacy?
Choices
- A. That knowledge is about being certain and never changing your mind.
- B. That we should always trust our first ideas without testing them.
- C. That intellectual honesty means being open to questioning and being wrong. ✓
- D. That the most important thing is to always be right.
Answer: C. That intellectual honesty means being open to questioning and being wrong.
From page 10