fallibilism
FAL-uh-buh-liz-um
/ˈfæl.ə.bə.lɪ.zəm/
The philosophical principle that human beings can never attain absolute certainty regarding truth and knowledge.
Not radical skepticism, but an open-minded recognition that empirical beliefs might turn out false.
The story behind the word. Coined by American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce around 1897 from Latin 'fallere' (to deceive). Peirce argued that scientific knowledge grows precisely because scientists acknowledge they might be wrong.
Word relationships
- open-mindedness: Open-mindedness is a personal disposition; fallibilism is a formal epistemological stance.
- infallibilism: The belief that absolute certainty is attainable.
- dogmatism: Uncritical assertion of unproven principles.
Commonly confused with
- fallacy: A fallacy is a specific error in reasoning; fallibilism is the broad philosophical stance that knowledge is subject to error.
Word family
- fallible (adjective): Capable of making mistakes or being erroneous.
- fallibilist (noun/adjective): One who holds that empirical knowledge is uncertain.
Collocations
- epistemic fallibilism
- embrace fallibilism
Example sentences
- "Peirce argued that fallibilism is essential to scientific progress because it encourages continuous revision." Epistemology
Memory hook
FALLibilism admits that human thinking can FALL into error. We can always be wrong.
When not to use
Do not confuse with moral failing or intentional error.
Fun facts
- Karl Popper later made fallibilism the core of his falsification theory of science.
Related words
Explore more words
fallible, agnosticism, skeptic, epistemology, falsifiable, falsify
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