A scientific theory, according to Popper, can be legitimately saved from
falsification by introducing an auxiliary hypothesis to generate new,
falsifiable predictions. Also, if there are suspicions of bias or error, the
researchers might introduce an auxiliary falsifiable hypothesis that would allow
testing. But this technique can not solve the problem in general, because any
auxiliary hypothesis can be clenged in the same way, ad infinitum. To
solve this regression, Popper introduces the idea of a basic statement, an
empirical statement that can be used both to determine whether a given theory is
falsifiable and, if necessary, to corroborate falsification assumptions.
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22162.09923