Hypothesis
A hypothesis (plural hypotheses) is a suggested explanation for something that has been observed, which can then be tested. The OpenStax textbook Biology 2e defines it simply: "A hypothesis is a suggested explanation for an event, which one can test."[1] Forming and testing hypotheses is one of the activities most often linked with science.[2]
Hypotheses in science
According to Biology 2e, one of the most important parts of the scientific method is testing hypotheses through experiments that can be repeated.[3] When trying to solve a problem, a scientist can propose several different hypotheses and then test them.[4] The textbook calls the kind of logic used in this work deductive reasoning, or deduction.[5]
Not every science can run repeatable experiments. The textbook gives archaeology as an example of a field where hypotheses can still be supported even though experiments cannot be repeated.[6] Biology 2e also says that a hypothesis may, with enough support, become a theory, though philosophers of science debate how far any hypothesis can be shown to be true.[7][8]
Philosophy of hypotheses
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy describes the hypothetico-deductive account of science. On this view, scientists come up with hypotheses from which true observations can be deduced, and then check whether those observations hold.[9] The encyclopedia notes that a successful test did not prove the hypothesis true.[8] The philosopher Carl Hempel instead held that such a result gives the hypothesis "at least some support, some corroboration or confirmation".[10]
Not everyone welcomed hypotheses. Isaac Newton famously wrote "hypotheses non fingo", usually translated as "I frame no hypotheses".[11]
References
- ↑ "1.1 The Science of Biology". Biology 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
A hypothesis is a suggested explanation for an event, which one can test.
- ↑ "Scientific Method". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Among the activities often identified as characteristic of science are systematic observation and experimentation, inductive and deductive reasoning, the construction of models, and the formation and testing of hypotheses and theories.
- ↑ "1.1 The Science of Biology". Biology 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
one of the most important aspects of this method is the testing of hypotheses by means of repeatable experiments.
- ↑ "1.1 The Science of Biology". Biology 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
To solve a problem, one can propose several hypotheses.
- ↑ "1.1 The Science of Biology". Biology 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Deductive reasoning or deduction is the type of logic used in hypothesis-based science.
- ↑ "1.1 The Science of Biology". Biology 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
Consider archaeology—even though one cannot perform repeatable experiments, hypotheses may still be supported.
- ↑ "1.1 The Science of Biology". Biology 2e. OpenStax. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
A hypothesis may become a verified theory.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Scientific Method". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
If the experiment showed the test implications to be true, however, this did not prove the hypothesis true.
- ↑ "Scientific Method". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
On the hypothetico-deductive account, scientists work to come up with hypotheses from which true observational consequences can be deduced—hence, hypothetico-deductive.
- ↑ "Scientific Method". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
provides at least some support, some corroboration or confirmation for it
- ↑ "Scientific Method". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 20 October 2026.
hypotheses non fingo