# Unfalsifiability

*Also called: Untestable claim*

- **Cluster:** Distraction and distortion — Moving the argument somewhere easier to win
- **Page:** https://fallacy.wiki/fallacy/unfalsifiability/
- **In Arabic:** https://fallacy.wiki/ar/fallacy/unfalsifiability.md
- **Licence:** CC BY 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

## What it is

Framing a claim so that no possible observation could count against it.

## In the wild

> The force is undetectable by any instrument, but it is real.

## How to answer it

Ask what observation would change their mind. If nothing would, the claim is not empirical.

## Origin and naming

The term belongs to Karl Popper, who made falsifiability his criterion of science in 'The Logic of Scientific Discovery' (1934). A claim no observation could count against is, on his account, not even wrong — it is untestable by construction.

## More places it shows up

- A guru's meditation technique reduces anxiety — and when a trial shows no effect, that proves the participants weren't meditating properly.
- A theorist insists a secret cabal runs the market; every piece of contrary evidence just shows how thoroughly the cabal covers its tracks.
- A manager claims her leadership raised team morale; the anonymous survey showing otherwise only proves the team can't recognize good leadership yet.
- A fortune-teller's predictions are always right: if the event didn't happen, the stars' warning must have helped you avoid it.

## How to spot it

- Notice when every outcome — success, failure, silence — is listed as confirmation.
- Notice when 'what would prove you wrong?' is answered with a lecture instead of a scenario.
- Notice when the claim's defenders describe evidence against it as part of the plan.

## Nearby

- [Ad hoc rescue](https://fallacy.wiki/fallacy/ad-hoc-rescue.md)
- [Appeal to ignorance](https://fallacy.wiki/fallacy/appeal-ignorance.md)
- [Moving the goalposts](https://fallacy.wiki/fallacy/moving-goalposts.md)
- [Shifting the burden of proof](https://fallacy.wiki/fallacy/burden-shift.md)

## Read more

- [Wikipedia — Falsifiability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability)

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From fallacy.wiki — a bilingual field guide to 91 logical fallacies, published by phi holdings. Licensed CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): reuse freely with attribution to fallacy.wiki.