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AD HOC HYPOTHESIS |
| When a hypothesis or claim has been shown to be false or not possible based on what we know about reality, the �ad hoc adjustment� is used to �save� a part, if not the whole, of the claim being made. It is used to explain away any contradictory evidence that has been found and if necessary, make slight adjustments to the claim in order to salvage the main idea behind it. It may not be that the claim is true or even likely but when certain parts are shown to be false, it can be altered in such a way that we can no longer prove it to be either true or false. In this way, the �ad hoc adjustment� is a tactic used by people to prolong the existence of their idea or claim so that it is not thrown in the trash heap of false ideas (where it may often deserve to be placed.) The adjustments are made after the fact and with many extraordinary claims, can be made time and time again in order to preserve the basic idea being promoted. It runs contrary to the process and methods of science in the sense that instead of always ensuring claims are testable and can be falsified, the ad hoc adjustment is employed to keep the idea from being testable and/or falsified. |
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