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    If auxiliary assumptions absorb evidential pressure, a hy... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→A hypothesis passes a severe test only if the data agree with the hypothesis and the probability is very low that the data agree with the alternative hypothesis.

    If auxiliary assumptions absorb evidential pressure, a hypothesis may pass severity thresholds without genuine corroboration of the target claim.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Auxiliary assumptions can be modified post-hoc to fit data, allowing unfalsifiable theories to appear empirically successful.
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    • 2.When auxiliary assumptions vary widely, we cannot distinguish whether evidence supports the core hypothesis or only specific auxiliary assumptions.
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    • 3.Severity requires that a hypothesis risked failing a test; auxiliary assumptions that absorb counterevidence reduce this genuine risk.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.All empirical testing requires auxiliary assumptions; rejecting results whenever auxiliaries are involved would make science impossible.
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    • 2.Well-justified auxiliary assumptions (independently confirmed) legitimately shield core hypotheses without undermining evidential support.
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    • 3.Severity can be preserved if we test auxiliary assumptions independently and specify them before data collection, not post-hoc.
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    Related

    A hypothesis passes a severe test only if the data agree with the hypothesis and...All empirical testing requires auxiliary assumptions; rejecting results whenever...Auxiliary assumptions can be modified post-hoc to fit data, allowing unfalsifiab...Severity can be preserved if we test auxiliary assumptions independently and spe...
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    Severity requires that a hypothesis risked failing a test; auxiliary assumptions...Well-justified auxiliary assumptions (independently confirmed) legitimately shie...When auxiliary assumptions vary widely, we cannot distinguish whether evidence s...

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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