Evidence Metaphysics

A stance that treats evidence as a self‑interpreting, context‑independent entity that directly confirms or disconfirms claims. Evidence metaphysics ignores that evidence is always evidence‑for under a particular interpretation, and that what counts as evidence is theory‑laden. It turns the process of inquiry into a simple matching game: gather evidence, check against claim, decide. This leads to naive falsificationism and the dismissal of qualitative or mixed‑methods research that doesn’t fit the model.

Example: “He rejected her entire argument because ‘the evidence’ could be interpreted differently. Evidence metaphysics: forgetting that interpretation is part of evidence.”

Evidence Metaphysics by Abzugal May 22, 2026