The Epistemological (Not Reproducibility) Crisis.

Area of Science:

• Epistemology
• Philosophy of Science
• Medical Research

Background:

• The current scientific reproducibility crisis is rooted in a fundamental crisis of knowledge, specifically an epistemological one.
• The prevalent use of null hypothesis testing with a P-value threshold of <.05 contributes to the medical literature being populated with spurious correlations instead of genuine knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight three foundational issues contributing to the current crisis of knowledge in scientific research.
• To propose a re-evaluation of scientific reasoning paradigms to foster more robust and reliable knowledge generation.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of the problem of induction and its implications for scientific reasoning.
• Introduction of the concept of epistemological access to explain limitations in extracting true findings from data.
• Analysis of the iatrogenics of information, where increased data can paradoxically be detrimental.

Main Results:

• Scientific reasoning, primarily inductive, is inherently limited by the problem of induction.
• The concept of epistemological access demonstrates that low-level data is insufficient for uncovering true scientific findings.
• The iatrogenics of information suggests that excessive data can impede knowledge acquisition and lead to ineffective treatments.

Conclusions:

• Revisiting foundational issues in scientific reasoning is crucial for overcoming the reproducibility and knowledge crisis.
• A deeper understanding of epistemology and data interpretation is necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific literature.
• Addressing these issues can mitigate the harm caused by information overload and lead to more effective medical treatments.