# Poppers Theory of Knowledge * [All Observations are Theory Laden](All%20Observations%20are%20Theory%20Laden.md) * [All Knowledge is Conjectural](All%20Knowledge%20is%20Conjectural.md) * Scientific knowledge is **tested by observation**, not derived from it ([Observations are not Sources of Knowledge](Observations%20are%20not%20Sources%20of%20Knowledge.md)) * Scientific theories are **testable conjectures** ##### Problems Popper rejects the inductivist view that knowledge begins with observations and proceeds through generalization. Instead, he asserts that knowledge creation starts with [Problems](Problem.md). These problems arise from the inadequacies or inconsistencies within our existing theories or explanations. A problem, in this sense, is a catalyst for seeking better explanations, not merely an anomaly that needs to be accommodated within existing frameworks. ##### Knowledge is Relational and Context-Dependent Say we have [Problem](Problem.md) P and theories A and B. We find that A better solves our problem. We can state this as "A better solves P than B". This is a [Relational](Relation.md) statement. It ties together the problem, the theories, and the criteria for solving problems. The [Knowledge](Knowledge.md) that results is not an absolute truth ([Justified True Belief](Justified%20True%20Belief.md)) about A, but rather the provisional judgment that A performs better in solving P under the current circumstances. Without P and B, A has no intrinsic meaning or justification—it is only significant within the problem-solving framework. Popper explicitly rejects the idea of an ultimate or absolute measuring stick for knowledge. There is no foundational standard by which we can say a theory is definitively “true.” Instead, theories are measured *relative to problems* and to their ability to withstand criticism and testing compared to alternatives. This means that A’s “knowledge content” is always learned through its relationship to P, B, and any other competing theories. This relationality is what allows knowledge to be fallible, dynamic, and constantly evolving. Thus, we can say that knowledge is both *provisional* and *contextual*. This is also explored in [Explanations Are Justified By Their Superior Ability to Solve Problems They Address](Explanations%20Are%20Justified%20By%20Their%20Superior%20Ability%20to%20Solve%20Problems%20They%20Address.md). --- Date: 20240807 Links to: [Problem Driven Epistemology](Problem%20Driven%20Epistemology.md) Tags: References: * []()