Hypotheses

When an explanation is arrived at, it can often be modified by discovery of further research, additional facts or mitigating circumstances not known at the time of original research. An example of this would be the drug AZT which was hailed as a miracle drug for HIV+ persons when it first was discovered. Eventually, more research was conducted and it became known that the drug was only effective in the long-term if it was used in combination with two other powerful new drugs. Thus, an auxiliary hypothesis was added to the original one that AZT helped to prolong the life of those with HIV+. Instead of extending their life in the long-run, AZT seemed useful only for prolonging the quality of life for the short-term. The hypothesis was modified to include that AZT would only significantly extend the life of those with HIV if they used it in combination with two other powerful AIDS drugs. Thus, the auxiliary hypothesis is one that is linked or parallel to the original one based on the facts of modification of the initial explanation. Ad Hoc hypotheses would not serve such a function because they are hypotheses that are added for a special case only and without general application. To be valid and consistent, a scientific hypothesis needs to fit into the existing scientific framework meaning it can be applied in a broad sense, since developing broad laws is the underlying goal of the scientific and reasoning processes.

One can make a determination between ad

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