Science and Hypothesis

Henri Poincaré's Science and Hypothesis is a foundational work of modern philosophy of science that challenges superficial views of scientific certainty. Poincaré argues that the logic of science is not infallible, and that mathematical truths are not simply derived from self-evident propositions. Instead, he examines the indispensable role of hypothesis, which he insists is as necessary for the experimenter as it is for the mathematician. The book distinguishes between different kinds of hypotheses: some are verifiable and become fertile truths, while others are merely "conventions in disguise". This is especially true in mathematics. Poincaré argues that the axioms of geometry, for example, are not…