The confirmations of novel predictions resulting from bold conjectures are very important in the falsificationist account of the growth of science. - Alan Chalmers

Empiricism and positivism share the common view that scientific knowledge should in some way be derived from the facts arrived at by observation.

The aim of science is to falsify theories and to replace them by better theories, theories that demonstrate a greater ability to withstand tests.

Establishing by observation that there is just one black swan falsifies "all swans are white". This is an unexceptional and undeniable point. However, using it as grounds to support a falsificationist philosophy of science is not as straightforward as it might seem.