WALTER ANDREW SHEWHART

This quotation is not only a classic criterion of whether or not a question is scientific, but it became very fundamental to the political debate in the late 20th century over the teaching of so called “Creationism” in the science curriculum of the public schools. The Federal courts have ruled that it is not science, and as such may not be taught in science classes. The reason that it is not science is that it is not falsifiable as this and other scientific definitions require.

This quotation is not only a classic criterion of whether or not a question is scientific, but it became very fundamental to the political debate in the late 20th century over the teaching of so called “Creationism” in the science curriculum of the public schools. The Federal courts have ruled that it is not science, and as such may not be taught in science classes. The reason that it is not science is that it is not falsifiable as this and other scientific definitions require.