Uncovering Illusions of Understanding: A Falsificationist Perspective

Abstract

In a complex world, scientific explanations are always incomplete. Therefore, can we say that scientists generally suffer from “illusions of understanding?” I argue that embracing a falsificationist perspective makes scientists aware of the provisional nature of all explanations and highlights the limitations of current scientific knowledge. Tools such as preregistration and formal modeling are well suited for uncovering illusions of understanding.