Question

“No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.” a famous quote of Albert Einstein,

Does this statement support inductivism?

Also, what does it to do with falcification ?

Answer 1

Albert Einsteins theories are mostly based on deductive logic . He made several hypothesis which he left for experimental physicists to later confirm by suitable experiments. His theories of general and special theories were constructed purely based on dedudctive logic . So he says that these could only be supported by subsequent experiments , but none of them can be conclusive proof . However, single experimental result can lead to complete collapse of hypothesis . One example is collapse on basis of single experiment - diffraction of light which lead to collapse of Newton's corpuscular construct of light , not withstanding so many other experiments like reflection which were supporting corpuscular theory.

Inductive reason ,makes some observations and theory is built around them. Then that theory should fit other related phenomena. When it fails to fit one of the observed phenomena a new theory needs to be constructed, or old one needs tweaking . Example, in physics, is Black body radiation which necessitated need for quantum theory to obviate ultraviolet catastrophe.

Falcification is the recognition of the fact that todays concepts are subject to falcification in future experimental results which may necessitate the need to for a new paradigm. Thus we can see that Einstein's statement also recognises that entire scientific theories may be good enough till such time they are falsified.

Note: This question is given to a Physics Expert  and hence the Physics bias. Sorry about that.