Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[Investor2014]

Worth reading Karl Popper and his central concept of the scientific method.

Rather than trying to falsify claims by Anavex, many posts here are instead busy trying to fit any information or lack of it about Anavex trials and outcomes to a positive investment thesis.

Think like a scientist and be investors.

There are really good signals from Anavex trials so far, but no clear cut data and results yet that can’t easily be falsified in more than one way. We need to get to a point where the endpoints of a trial are met by the trials prior defined outcome measures, not just some or by alternative outcome measures.

https://study.com/learn/lesson/karl-popper-life-theory-falsification.html


“The Theory of Falsification

The theory of falsification came as Karl Popper was trying to figure out the separating line between scientific (empirical) and non-scientific (pseudoscience) theories. Empiricism is a common practice in social sciences whereby the source of knowledge or observations is obtained through the human senses. Therefore, empirical science is based on observations/experiences rather than pure logic and theories. On the other hand, non-science or pseudoscience includes logic, metaphysics, psychoanalysis, and individual psychology.

Popper challenged the verifiability criterion formulated by logical empiricists such as Carnap and Schlick. This criterion stated that any statement was cognitively relevant if it was only verifiable. However, this criterion seemed only to support empirical science claims while discrediting non-science claims. Therefore, Karl Popper objected to this by stating that there is no verification of theories in science but refutation or falsification. For instance, a statement or theory by a scientist claiming that all swans are black since they only encountered black swans during their research can be refuted. This is because there are higher chances of getting other swans of various colors if the same research is repeated in various regions.

Therefore, in his theory of falsification, Popper suggested that scientific theories possess potential falsifiers, and their claims about the world might later be discovered to be false. On the other hand, non-scientific theories lack potential falsifiers since there is no possibility of obtaining observations to falsify them. Thus, for a theory to be abandoned or refined, Popper proposed that scientists should come up with better theories by first proving them false. However, he also acknowledged that all unfalsifiable claims were essential to both scientific and philosophical settings.”